Audit the Fed

Do you think it is strange that congress cannot even get an audit of the Federal Reserve Banks?  Isn’t it their responsibility to have oversight?

The central banking system, controlled by the Federal Reserve Banks, was created by the Federal Reserve Act December 23, 1913.

It’s amazing that very few people understand where our money comes from and those in control of creating currency (legal tender).  Many people think that our government prints the money which is the smaller portion of legal tender.  Actually, money is created by debt as a bookkeeping entry (out of thin air) due to fractional-reserve banking and control by the Federal Reserve Banking system.  When you sign a debt agreement for a car, house, credit card, and other loans money is created in the closed loop banking system.

Wouldn’t it be great if you could create your own money and then charge interest on it–including the government (Federal, State, and Local)? You would go to jail but Banksters don’t.

Because of compound interest, charged on thin air, this is the greatest ponzi scheme (house of cards) ever created that will not be sustainable over the long run without a collapse (bankruptcy) correction.  What will you buy with worthless money?  Wealth is not destroyed it is just transferred.  Audit the Fed because we will then see the necessity to take back control of the money.

“Give me the right to issue and control a nation’s money and I care not who governs the country.” Meyer Amschal Rothschild, International banker

“In God We Trust – Jesus Saves and Banksters Withdraw.”

“It’s a proprietary strategy.  I can’t go into it in great detail” Bernard Madoff, Barron’s May 7, 2001

Home Based Business

How can our government promote “Home Based Business?”

Why should government promote home based businesses? Look at the gas used to get people back and forth to cubicles.  It’s like herding cattle twice each day.  If you look at cities like Atlanta and DFW (where mass transit is not used) we wonder how much fuel could be saved if those massive traffic jams were missing because people are telecommuting instead?

Not too many years back our forefathers lived on farms and didn’t experience massive traffic jams.  Also, if you look at history books, you will see that many cities had mass transit (electric cable cars like San Francisco) before the introduction of the automobile.  Look at various profitable industries (like electric cars) that were abandoned because of gas automobiles and airplanes.  As we know, most airlines are broke or on their way to being broke (besides being controlled by terror legislation making it anti-customer).  How could government speed up and promote this back to the future trend.  People could invest in their own business instead of too big to fail ponzi schemes that make the people at the top in Corp. America mega rich.

Some argue that working out of the home is not productive and isolates people.  Contrary to that idea we see people networking online and meeting friends and customers.  Many home based business require that people “get out” on occasion.  In fact, my wife and I see more of our country, and people,  than we ever saw working for Corp. America.  I hypothesize that cubicles are not healthy places to be mentally of physically.

Manhattan is an exception to many cities.  Many of these people live and work in the same area.  In fact, many are healthier because they walk a lot.  Admittedly, there are many commuters but they don’t drive cars.

Legislators need to start eliminating tax laws that hinders home based business and business travel for those people who need to travel to other parts of the country and the world.  If we look at how we work it will automatically adjust how we commute reducing our carbon footprint.

Legislators need to promote to the “Nth degree” home based business.  As an example, favorable health insurance legislation is a huge step in the right direction.

I know, politicians are controlled by “robber barons” and will tend to move in other directions but the citizens will get their fill and begin to take back control (we hope). We need voices so be a voice.

Hard-Hearted

Why did it become popular to be hard-hearted in America?

(unsympathetic, hard, cold, cruel, indifferent, insensitive, callous, stony, unkind, heartless, inhuman, merciless, intolerant, uncaring, pitiless, unfeeling, unforgiving, hard as nails, affectless-You would have to be pretty hard-hearted not to feel something.)

TheFreeDictionary.com

Many people are hard to understand when it comes to “moral” issues.  They think it is a badge of honor to have “hardness of heart.”  We should  realize that all religions preach being kind-hearted.  And so, where’s the so-called moral right?

“And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.” Luke 9:2

Support health care reform.

Wall Street

“For the times they are a-changin.”

Short-term quarterly profit results have driven the executive decisions of publicly traded companies forever. Some how I think that focus will change.  Perhaps slowly from a government regulation perspective but not slowly from an investor perspective (and that counts even more).

Investor trust and opinion counts way more than government regulation and what politicians decide!

Just like going green is politically correct I feel restoring trust in the markets to be politically correct and totally necessary for business to avoid the negative consequences of  populace criticism and actions.

In this “Age of Communication” Wall Street will be in the spot light for some time to come.

“By making the world smaller, the Internet is also reinforcing a certain level of small-town business mores.” Lynda Resnick

“Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Dont stand in the doorway
Dont block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
Theres a battle outside
And it is ragin.
Itll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin.”

Bob Dylan

You’re “It”

People talk about the “Relationship and Trust” they have with their Doctor in this health care debate.  “Don’t get between me and my Doctor.”

Many people have primary care givers they hardly known and specialists, etc.  The normal “professional objectivity” takes the patient from “you” to “it.”  I recall my sister being told in a hospital room, with no relatives there at the time for support, that you have about a 40% chance to live because of breast cancer.  I also saw her hopes drop (she died that very day) when a very frank and uncaring Doctor’s Assistant told her when she was dying in the hospital:  “Just let nature take its course.”  Up to that point it was obvious that she was trying so hard to live.

I’m not trying to paint Doctors (unlike politicians) as uncaring but let you understand that you are an object (called a patient) and even more so (on a much greater scale) with for-profit Insurance Companies.  You generally have no real relationship and no clue if their treatment will cure you or kill you.

Daniel Goleman , Harvard PhD and winner of the American Psychological Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award, says the following in his book Social Intelligence:

“Duffy was still half-asleep when, without any warning, she was surrounded by white-coated strangers–a doctor and a group of medical students.  The doctor, without a word, pulled off her blanket and stripped off her nightgown as though she were just a mannequin, leaving her naked.

Too weak to protest, Duffy managed a sarcastic ‘Well, good morning’ to the doctor, who ignored her.

Instead he launched into a lecture on carcinoma for the gaggle of medical students who circled her bed.  They duly stared at her naked body, detachedly indifferent to her.

Finally the doctor deigned to speak directly to Duffy, asking distractedly, ‘Have you passed gas yet?’

When she tried to assert a bit of humanity with a snappy comeback–’No, I don’t do that until the third date’–the doctor looked offended, as though she had let him down.

What Duffy so urgently wanted in that moment was for the doctor to affirm her personhood by even a small gesture that would allow her a bit of dignity. She needed  and I-You moment.  What she got was a cold dose of It.

As Duffy was, we are inevitably troubled when someone we expect to loop with for one reason or another fails to take up their half of the circuit.  The result:  we feel bereft–something like a baby whose mother refuses to pay attention to her.”

America is in trouble today not because of doctors with “professional objectivity” but that false information (so-called facts) abounds and lies are told to a people that should know better. And so, for the strange silence, lack of empathy, and input from religions leaders on this important issue:  “Our religion is not Jew, Muslim, or Christian but a misplaced Nationalism.”  Dumbed down religion for the masses (we’re the greatest and the best) that is very different from the “proud to be American.”  Nationalism is our true religion (God’s Nation). Therefore, we make statements that are not only untrue but stupid at the surface.  We sometimes observe some of the so-called news people and think:  “If only you were dying of cancer you would change your mind about ‘examining’ the quality of health care in America.”  Unfortunately, I’m not too sure that some wouldn’t lie even in their final breath.

It’s About Money–Stupid!

Isn’t this a moral issue too?

Do You Travel on Fed Highways?

I believe in Capitalism but….

I learned in my economic classes about the various forms of competition (monopolies, duopolies, oligopolies, etc.).  For example, an oil cartel is not exactly what I would call a “free market.”  Antitrust laws are suppose to regulate competition in our society.

We hear a lot about socialism today from people that are clueless.  Government provides services because of the “common needs” of the populace.  And, it is often in industries that need to be regulated for the common good.

Letting people die or become bankrupt because of our current health care system is not capitalism.  It’s more what I would call a barbaric society and has “survival of the fittest” qualities.  I know, a lot of people could care less until it’s their butt that needs saving.

Your Health Care Dollar will be spent regardless.  Question:  “Would you like that dollar to go to your health care or an Insurance Company CEO mansion?”

I find it interesting that people look at capitalism differently when it comes to National Defense.  When American steel companies can’t make a profit, because other governments subsidize their steel industries, then our government is forced to place tariffs on foreign steel (so much for the belief in free markets).

I am really tired of seeing health insurance companies rip people off or worse.  Get them out of the process.

I don’t believe in corporate dictatorial controlled fascism. Corporations are run by people that sometimes do evil. I remember a CEO telling me his true feelings about protecting the environment: “Give it another (30) years and I won’t care at all (considering his age).”  Sometimes people protect the bottom-line by doing evil things.

god

Many of us can see the economic problems of having gods (guns, oil, and drugs).

We have to recognize what’s driving the world economy before we can “fix” things.  “These people over here are criminals and these other people are not” doesn’t give the big picture issues.  When guns, oil, and drugs drive the world economy we are all involved!  These economic drivers will attract legitimate and criminal elements (blurring the lines).

For example, how does a drug dealer laundry money? The drug dealer buys things like cars, corporate stock and various commerce activities. Therefore, Ford or GM could be helping a drug dealer by selling them cars. They are indirectly complicit (but not criminal in this example) and the economy is being greatly stimulated by drug money.  The drug money is providing sales, profits, and jobs just like oil and guns.

When we look at the problems in the middle eastern and Eurasia countries we realize that they have all of the ingredients necessary for world tension.

As an example, we look at Afghanistan and find that supplying opium to the world is “big business.”  We don’t even need to talk about the profits of guns and oil in this region (we would have to be blind, deaf, and dumb to miss it).

When we get a clear picture regarding the major economic drivers we can begin to understand the decisions of the economic players.  And so, we can begin to direct the path of legislation to control “our gods.”

“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” Abraham Lincoln

National Health Care Debate

Why should you want change in the current health care system?  You have the best health insurance coverage that money can buy!

So did my sister when she got breast cancer at age (53) and she died at (63).  Financially, she was way above average.  Otherwise, she would not have made it (10) years.

I have no political party affiliation.  I think both parties are totally corrupt so this is not a political issue with me.  Hyperbole?  You decide.  Also, I’ve done a 180° turn due to her cancer experience of (10) years.

In my opinion, government employees don’t do what’s right because they just don’t care.  On the other hand, insurance companies don’t do what’s right because they do care–for the bottom-line number.  You are just a number in their accounts.  They are not criminals because you are just a number (not a member of their family).

Initially, her treatment was delayed due to insurance procedure requirements.  Next, they just removed one breast when they should have removed both.  Over the (10) years she continually fought for treatment procedures that would work.  The insurance carrier was interested in giving the least expensive treatments and cheapest drugs in hope that she would quickly pass on to the next life.

Since treatment is a continual fight (and you are very sick) you don’t have the physical energy or the mental attitude to fight for your rights.  This is a serious advantage for the insurance company.  They know that you are sick and up against a large company bureaucracy. They count heavily on the fact that you won’t fight for what’s right!  And so, they will make what little remains of you life a living hell.

I’ve taken my sister to the ER when we had to stay most of the day and night just to see a doctor. We only went to the ER because that’s the only way to get treatment in an emergency situation.

We all currently pay for the uninsured at the ER and in the hospital.  The uninsured are there because they don’t want to die–just like you don’t want to die.  Also, we all know that the baby boomer generation will run over the current health care system like a freight train hitting a brick wall.

We have the best health care system in the world.  Yes we do for a certain people.  I’m sure that your Senator will get the best care that money can buy and I’m sure he well knows those that butter his bread.  It’s not you or this would get fixed right?

“Oh, my Senator is not like that he’s a caring person.” You’ve got to be kidding right?  Still listening to the paid for controlled media BS?

Note: Do you really think your representative hasn’t heard similar stories (above) thousands of times?  Are you really that naive when you give them information about something and they say something like:  “I’ve never heard that before and I’ll look into it.”  One of the neat things about YouTube is the ability to see them making that same comment year after year after year.  The Internet really shows their true character.

Health Care Viruses

Health care viruses will cause private health insurance to die.

One of the advantages of being part of a large demographic (baby boomers) is the clout we have in the marketplace. In my opinion, the same thing that will kill Microsoft will kill private health insurance. Viruses!

Viruses?

It’s not the ability of Microsoft to make a quality product and compete that will eventually kill Microsoft.  It’s the fact that they never took computer viruses seriously and it’s almost too late for them to correct it.

Companies protect themselves against computer viruses but the average person, on their home PC, can’t protect themselves and the Microsoft products have been extremely lacking in this area.  If anything will promote the Google “Cloud” concept it will be computer viruses.

The same thing is true of private health care insurance.  It’s not the quality of the product, when it works, it’s the deficiencies in the product to protect you from the unexpected viruses.

No doubt that many small business people want public health care because they strategically see the future outcome much better than Microsoft does computer viruses (their number one strategic problem).

For example, if you get a major illness (cancer) many companies and private insurance carriers will do their best to get rid of you (literally).  I know, I was on the Insurance Board of a large company.  I once had a medical doctor scoff at me (in a discussion we were having about Vioxx) and the statistical significance of deaths versus outright knowing that the product would cause heart attacks or strokes.   Scoff:  “Yeah, people are going to do something they know will kill you?”

Don’t assume that people won’t let you die on purpose and be glad when you’re no longer around. At age (53) my sister got breast cancer and fought it (10) years before she died.  If she had not been a really savvy person she would have died much sooner like many of the cancer friends she made along the way.  At one point her employer (WorldCom) was going to fire her except for her threat of suit (remember I was on a company insurance board too so that’s not a surprise).  You know, any reason at all (like layoffs due to the economy) instead of the real reason.  Of course, business people know that paper trails should not be left and some things are better left unsaid.  Oh, just in case you don’t understand, loss history impacts the company bottom line through increased premiums.

Her health insurance provider (their “hurdles” and “delays”) probably had much to do with her getting worse and her eventual death.  Over (10) years she could have written a large book on this subject but she was too sick and facing death.  Fighting the company you work for, and their insurance carrier, is not something you want to consume your time when you’re dying.  That dynamic alone is overwhelming!

I’ll give you just one minor example to prove my point.  When she would take chemotherapy the anti nausea drug would make her feel like a bad case of the flu.  A kind nurse finally told her:  “This might get me fired but there is a much more expensive drug (the insurance carrier doesn’t want to pay for) that doesn’t have those side effects.”  And so, my sister insisted on the more expensive drug and no longer had that experience.

If you have private coverage and encounter a serious illness (as many small business owners do) don’t be surprised if you are canceled and your premiums returned from the date of the policy [Rescission].  Your medical history will be combed and fraud will be alleged.  You may be too sick, and lacking in legal funds, to fight this before your untimely death.  And, of course, that’s what some are counting on.  Will everyone have this experience?  No.  But the possibility should scare you.

Stupidity is a pre existing condition!

You bet that government bureaucratic incompetency is a big problem just like Corporate Greed.

Health Care Crisis

The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in a period of moral crisis, maintain their neutrality. – Dante

Not Paid to Think

Maggie Mahar writes in Money-Driven Medicine:

“In truth, it is not only that physicians are not trained to listen; they are not paid to have long conversations.  ‘Unfortunately, American medicine has come to rely much more on diagnostic testing than on knowledge and cognitive thinking,’ Dr. Bob LeBow, the former head of three community health centers in Idaho, wrote in 2002.  ‘And this makes economic sense,’ he added, ’since reimbursements for diagnostic tests are much better than for cognitive efforts…’Thinking clinicians’ might get reimbursed $35 for talking to a patient for half an hour about multiple medical problems, but pass a tube to somebody’s stomach (it can be done in ten minutes) and the payment can be $900.  Illogical, but that’s our system.’

…So Lew Silverman, a blind diabetic who could no longer walk with any confidence, was redefined as a kidney patient.  Physicians had done all that they could to treat Lew Silverman’s diabetes; they had run out of experimental treatments.  Nor could they cure his despair.  But they could treat his kidneys with dialysis.  So someone called in a renal specialist, who, quite naturally, was eager to use the technology that he felt certain would work.  Of course dialysis would do nothing to cure Silverman’s larger medical problems.

…Doctors are taught to view death as the ultimate enemy: “Defeating death at any cost–that is the priority.  It comes ahead of reducing suffering, or considering the quality of the patient’s life,’ says Meier. ‘If you look at NIH funding,’ she points out, ‘you see that is where the money goes–to cure cancer, to prevent all heart disease and stroke.’”

Death is the ultimate enemy!

“So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1st Cor. 15:54-55)

“The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” (1st Cor. 15:26)