President Obama, and the leaders in Congress on both sides of the isle, recognize that the U.S. is in a BAD place. The U.S., like many individuals, has spent far beyond it's ability pay. Stripped of fancy rhetoric, the U.S. is BROKE. There are many obvious steps that can be taken to reduce U.S. debt; the real question is, does Congress have the will to confront the reality the USA is broke, and do something about it. Past Congresses and Administrations stuck there heads in the sand, raised the national debt limit, and have keep spending as if there were no tomorrow. The 112th Congress can no longer pass the buck by raising the national debt limit, now set at $14.3 TRILLION dollars.
The President as well as Congress have equal responsibilities to cut spending and reduce the debt. The Federal government is the largest employer in the U.S., if not the world. The President should require that ALL Federal employees who are eligible to retire, be required to retire NOW, or else loose all government benefits. This step, requiring all eligible Federal employees to retire now, would reduce the government workforce by 12% ( savings of roughly $37 billion ) and save the government billions in future costs.
Next on the President's list should be to close all military facilities the U.S. maintains in some 150 foreign countries. The U.S. Navy and Air Force are fully capable of deploying needed forces without shore based facilities. And remember, the most effective fighting tool today, is the predator drone, controlled from Nellis AFB, Nevada. This would yield a savings in the neighborhood of $220 billion, and save billions in future costs. Vacating Iraq and Afghanistan would save another $25+ billion in annual costs.
Undocumented and illegal immigrants cost the Federal government [ vis-a-vis reimbursed benefits to States ] around $30 billion a year. By eliminating all benefits to undocumented and illegal immigrants and their offspring, including health care, schooling, and welfare, this would save the Federal and State governments, collectively, another $40+ billion a year.
Foreign aid: it is absurd for the U.S. to borrow money, to give to foreign governments whose leaders pocket it, build private mansions in safe haven counties, and leave the U.S. holding an empty bag. You don't hear much about U.S. Foreign aide except for the occasional leak. The U.S. Government intentionally obfuscates foreign aid accounting and expenditures so both Congress and the U.S. Public have no concrete idea of how many taxpayers dollars are involved, but estimates range from $22 billion to $40 billion; lets go with $25 billion, which is likely an underestimate.
Then there are the “territories”: Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, Am. Samoa and the Northern Marianas. These tiny islands are subsidized by the U.S. Taxpayer to the tune of $10 billion a year.
The budget is within the President's purview. The President/Executive Branch prepares it, and presents the budget to Congress. If one just adds the items outlined above: roughly $360 billion, it would be one small step in the right direction to get the U.S. back on a sustainable financial track. In the event the President does not have the guts to eliminate these needless expenditures and waste from the budget, Congress should bite the bullet, not authorize funding of the 2010-2011 budget, and, at a minimum, cut the above items and amounts from the Federal budget.
Showing posts with label the President. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the President. Show all posts
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Friday, December 31, 2010
Obama, Mexico and the 2nd Amendment
U.S. President Obama, contrary to the 2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions affirming a citizens rights to keep and bear arms, has co-oped with Mexican President Calderon, to subvert the rights of U.S. Citizens. Obama has directed the ATF & Customs to adopt administrative rules and regulations that undermine the U.S. Constitution regarding the sale of firearms in the U.S., and has allowed Mexican President Calderon directive input in the formulation of U.S. laws, in affect, allowing Mexican President Calderon, equal status of a U.S. President.
Such misguided actions by Obama subordinate U.S. Sovereignty, and the rights of U.S. citizens to that of Mexico, and convert millions of U.S. taxpayer dollars for the direct benefit of Mexico. Under ordinary circumstances, a U.S. President would be impeached for such acts, but Emperor Obama, flanked by his minions in Congress, have no shame when it comes to selling out to foreign nations and disregarding the U.S. Constitution.
What can be done: the 112th Congress should put a stop to the flagrant violations of U.S. sovereignty, and U.S. Citizens rights, propounded by President Obama, by severely cutting the budget for administrative agencies. Congresses ability to restrain the unbridled actions of the President are limited; but Congress does have the power, authority and right pursuant to Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, to determine how much the Executive Branch/President can spend. The President and Executive Branch, departments and agencies need to be put on a very limited “allowance”, no more in dollars than 15% of the total budget approved for the Executive Branch in 2010. The Department of Defense, should not be subject to such a limited “allowance” so long as the U.S. remains engaged in foreign conflicts; the DOD should be the only agency exempt from a strict diet.
Mexico is a special case, but representative of the trend President Obama and his administration have championed to subordinate the U.S. Constitution and U.S. Citizens rights to foreign powers. Mexico claims that the U.S. is totally responsible for the import of firearms/guns into Mexico ?
Has Mexico established a double picket line of its military along the the border with the U.S. and double checked each vehicle entering Mexico, the answer is obvious: NO ! Has Mexico established a double picket line of its military along the the border with the U.S. to mitigate human trafficking and the smuggling of drugs and persons into the U.S., the answer is obvious: NO ! Obama's message to Mexico, we, the U.S. take full responsibility for every adversity Mexico and Mexican President Calderon claim. Obama's message to Mexico, is his message to the rest of the world, U.S. Taxpayers and citizens will pay for every claim made by a foreign power.
Obama is a silver tongued president who will lead the U.S. ruin unless the 112th Congress develops backbone and retakes it's power and exercises it's duties under the Constitution.
Such misguided actions by Obama subordinate U.S. Sovereignty, and the rights of U.S. citizens to that of Mexico, and convert millions of U.S. taxpayer dollars for the direct benefit of Mexico. Under ordinary circumstances, a U.S. President would be impeached for such acts, but Emperor Obama, flanked by his minions in Congress, have no shame when it comes to selling out to foreign nations and disregarding the U.S. Constitution.
What can be done: the 112th Congress should put a stop to the flagrant violations of U.S. sovereignty, and U.S. Citizens rights, propounded by President Obama, by severely cutting the budget for administrative agencies. Congresses ability to restrain the unbridled actions of the President are limited; but Congress does have the power, authority and right pursuant to Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, to determine how much the Executive Branch/President can spend. The President and Executive Branch, departments and agencies need to be put on a very limited “allowance”, no more in dollars than 15% of the total budget approved for the Executive Branch in 2010. The Department of Defense, should not be subject to such a limited “allowance” so long as the U.S. remains engaged in foreign conflicts; the DOD should be the only agency exempt from a strict diet.
Mexico is a special case, but representative of the trend President Obama and his administration have championed to subordinate the U.S. Constitution and U.S. Citizens rights to foreign powers. Mexico claims that the U.S. is totally responsible for the import of firearms/guns into Mexico ?
Has Mexico established a double picket line of its military along the the border with the U.S. and double checked each vehicle entering Mexico, the answer is obvious: NO ! Has Mexico established a double picket line of its military along the the border with the U.S. to mitigate human trafficking and the smuggling of drugs and persons into the U.S., the answer is obvious: NO ! Obama's message to Mexico, we, the U.S. take full responsibility for every adversity Mexico and Mexican President Calderon claim. Obama's message to Mexico, is his message to the rest of the world, U.S. Taxpayers and citizens will pay for every claim made by a foreign power.
Obama is a silver tongued president who will lead the U.S. ruin unless the 112th Congress develops backbone and retakes it's power and exercises it's duties under the Constitution.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
OPEN LETTER TO: President Obama re Crude Oil Gusher in Gulf of Mexico
Dear President Obama:
I am an over-the-hill, open heart surgery survivor, and senior citizen; but,I am no fool. Your smile and public words regarding the BP platform disaster, suggests to me, and probably many other citizens, that you and your Administration have no plan "B"should things continue to deteriorate and "leakage" becomes a "gusher".
What I fear we are witnessing is a environmental and economic catastrophe of biblical proportion. Although human lives will not be a stake, the economic life of all U.S. Gulf states will be devastated for years to come. The seafood industry will collapse, sport fisheries will be dead, tourism will die off, with a cascading affect leading to 4 million + workers being unemployed, businesses going bankrupt and unemployed homeowners having their homes foreclosed, and families being put out in the street. I have yet to hear one word from you on how your administration will address this crippling circumstance that will make the economic impact of "Katrina" look like child's play.
Be honest instead of political. From a physical and experience perspective, everyone: BP, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Military, engineers and experts are operating in uncharted territory. Territory where the well head pressures are in the range of 4,000 to 6,000 pounds per square inch; where there is a probability that the submersibles will not be able to stem the flow of oil, and where the chances causing a blow-out are great. One expert likened it to a "volcano" on the verge of eruption.
So what are your and your Administrations plans? Is your justice department working on having all BP assets and operations placed in a trust, to satisfy the claims the U.S., States, citizens and other persons, will have against BP ? What about Congress, where is the pot of money hidden to extend unemployment and other benefits to the 4 million + Gulf State residents who will lose their jobs as businesses go bankrupt? We are not taking about bail-out here, we are taking about survival, economic survival. The survival of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Texas, delta and coastline dependent industries, businesses, workers and residents. It is as if the largest nuclear bomb known, has gone off in our backyard. What are your administrations plans? What are you doing, and going to do ? When ?
You have pledged billions to help Haiti, rebuild Iraq and Afghanistan,billions to Pakistan, more billions to help, support and subsidize countless foreign nations; but what about us, the U.S., the country you where elected President. I am listening, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Texas are listening,and if the leakage becomes a "gusher”, the entire Southern and East Coast of the U.S. will be listening.
A concerned citizen,
http://www.villagevoice911.blogspot.com
I am an over-the-hill, open heart surgery survivor, and senior citizen; but,I am no fool. Your smile and public words regarding the BP platform disaster, suggests to me, and probably many other citizens, that you and your Administration have no plan "B"should things continue to deteriorate and "leakage" becomes a "gusher".
What I fear we are witnessing is a environmental and economic catastrophe of biblical proportion. Although human lives will not be a stake, the economic life of all U.S. Gulf states will be devastated for years to come. The seafood industry will collapse, sport fisheries will be dead, tourism will die off, with a cascading affect leading to 4 million + workers being unemployed, businesses going bankrupt and unemployed homeowners having their homes foreclosed, and families being put out in the street. I have yet to hear one word from you on how your administration will address this crippling circumstance that will make the economic impact of "Katrina" look like child's play.
Be honest instead of political. From a physical and experience perspective, everyone: BP, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Military, engineers and experts are operating in uncharted territory. Territory where the well head pressures are in the range of 4,000 to 6,000 pounds per square inch; where there is a probability that the submersibles will not be able to stem the flow of oil, and where the chances causing a blow-out are great. One expert likened it to a "volcano" on the verge of eruption.
So what are your and your Administrations plans? Is your justice department working on having all BP assets and operations placed in a trust, to satisfy the claims the U.S., States, citizens and other persons, will have against BP ? What about Congress, where is the pot of money hidden to extend unemployment and other benefits to the 4 million + Gulf State residents who will lose their jobs as businesses go bankrupt? We are not taking about bail-out here, we are taking about survival, economic survival. The survival of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Texas, delta and coastline dependent industries, businesses, workers and residents. It is as if the largest nuclear bomb known, has gone off in our backyard. What are your administrations plans? What are you doing, and going to do ? When ?
You have pledged billions to help Haiti, rebuild Iraq and Afghanistan,billions to Pakistan, more billions to help, support and subsidize countless foreign nations; but what about us, the U.S., the country you where elected President. I am listening, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Texas are listening,and if the leakage becomes a "gusher”, the entire Southern and East Coast of the U.S. will be listening.
A concerned citizen,
http://www.villagevoice911.blogspot.com
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
U.S Health Care Reform: 6 Components in Small Package
Congress has done a very poor job in being transparent to citizen voters. The various Health Care bills floating in the House and Senate are another example of back-room deals and midnight bargains that only a select few in Congress are privy to, leaving the public in total darkness. The current health bills are to gargantuan to download to home desktops. The U.S. government broadcasts to the world that the U.S. A. is a democracy; one would think true hard copies of all proposed legislative Bills would be available for public view at the State and local offices of each U.S. Senators and Representatives - no such thing in the U.S., where Congress is a closed private club.
Most concerned citizens have serious reservations regarding the sustainability of any bill of 1000+ page proportion that leads to the creation of yet another Washington agency. The current health care bills, will create more bureaucracy and will eat up billions in administrative costs, yielding few health care benefits to the general public. Pie-in-the-sky legislation generally falls on it's face, and 100's of millions of dollars are lost to outright fraud.
President Obama should take control of his runaway Democratic dominated Congress and present a concise( 50 pages or less ), readable, health care package in Bill form, for the reconvening ( after August recess ) Congress to consider. A new draft, U.S. Health Care Reform package, should include the following components:
1) The pool of beneficiaries needs to be defined and limited: U.S. Citizens who have continuously resident within the U.S. for 7 consecutive years. The reasons for this limitation relate to personal health histories. The treatment of imported conditions and diseases is extremely costly and will financially sink any program of wide public benefit.
There is a distinction between pre-existing conditions and imported conditions and diseases.
2) There needs to be individual and family caps on services: suggest - $100,000. over 3 years for individuals; $200,000. over 3 years for a family of four. A carte blanche program is not sustainable.
3) Co-ops and HMO's need to be exempt from anti-trust laws, to form bargaining groups, that can contract for prescription drugs with pharmaceutical companies, medical equipment supplies, doctors and other health related services.
4) Medical licenses granted by one-state need to be recognized by other states. There needs to be a national registry of licensed doctors and health professionals who are in good standing. With the addition 40-50 million uninsured, there will be a shortage of doctors to address the health care needs of these new beneficiaries. Further, there must be a limitation on medical malpractice: a national standard needs to be defined: suggest - carelessness or gross-negligence with a cap on pain and suffering calculated at three ( 3 ) times actual damages + costs; and attorneys fees should be limited to not more than 15% of any award. A national process would be patterned after that established in California.
5) A National Health Care Trust should be established. Congress and the Administration should be prohibited from "dipping" into the NHCT. The NHCT Account held by Fed, fully deductible contributions, by anyone or entity, would be made through any FDIC insured member bank. There are going to be millions who, for one reason or another, or during a specific time period (e.g., while unemployed ), will be unable to pay any premium ( distinguish between premium and co-pay). The NHCT would be used, exclusively, to reimburse health services providers for services provided.
6) A "basic" coverage plan needs to be specifically defined and initial premium costs need to be established: suggest - $96.40 a month for individual coverage; $250.00 a month for family of four - all premiums fully deductible / $20.00 co-pay each visit/$30.00 co-pay for specialists. This is where existing HMO's can be most helpful. HMO’s can provide realistic costs and define what "basic" coverage can be realistically be provided within such costs parameters.
The current 1000+ pages bills or any massive bill needs to be scrapped ! President Obama, send Congress back to the drawing board. Produce a realistic bill that is readable and read by each and every member of Congress, and can be understood by the general public; and that specifically defines " what you pay, and what you get ". The current U.S. health distribution system needs to be tweeked not replaced.
Most concerned citizens have serious reservations regarding the sustainability of any bill of 1000+ page proportion that leads to the creation of yet another Washington agency. The current health care bills, will create more bureaucracy and will eat up billions in administrative costs, yielding few health care benefits to the general public. Pie-in-the-sky legislation generally falls on it's face, and 100's of millions of dollars are lost to outright fraud.
President Obama should take control of his runaway Democratic dominated Congress and present a concise( 50 pages or less ), readable, health care package in Bill form, for the reconvening ( after August recess ) Congress to consider. A new draft, U.S. Health Care Reform package, should include the following components:
1) The pool of beneficiaries needs to be defined and limited: U.S. Citizens who have continuously resident within the U.S. for 7 consecutive years. The reasons for this limitation relate to personal health histories. The treatment of imported conditions and diseases is extremely costly and will financially sink any program of wide public benefit.
There is a distinction between pre-existing conditions and imported conditions and diseases.
2) There needs to be individual and family caps on services: suggest - $100,000. over 3 years for individuals; $200,000. over 3 years for a family of four. A carte blanche program is not sustainable.
3) Co-ops and HMO's need to be exempt from anti-trust laws, to form bargaining groups, that can contract for prescription drugs with pharmaceutical companies, medical equipment supplies, doctors and other health related services.
4) Medical licenses granted by one-state need to be recognized by other states. There needs to be a national registry of licensed doctors and health professionals who are in good standing. With the addition 40-50 million uninsured, there will be a shortage of doctors to address the health care needs of these new beneficiaries. Further, there must be a limitation on medical malpractice: a national standard needs to be defined: suggest - carelessness or gross-negligence with a cap on pain and suffering calculated at three ( 3 ) times actual damages + costs; and attorneys fees should be limited to not more than 15% of any award. A national process would be patterned after that established in California.
5) A National Health Care Trust should be established. Congress and the Administration should be prohibited from "dipping" into the NHCT. The NHCT Account held by Fed, fully deductible contributions, by anyone or entity, would be made through any FDIC insured member bank. There are going to be millions who, for one reason or another, or during a specific time period (e.g., while unemployed ), will be unable to pay any premium ( distinguish between premium and co-pay). The NHCT would be used, exclusively, to reimburse health services providers for services provided.
6) A "basic" coverage plan needs to be specifically defined and initial premium costs need to be established: suggest - $96.40 a month for individual coverage; $250.00 a month for family of four - all premiums fully deductible / $20.00 co-pay each visit/$30.00 co-pay for specialists. This is where existing HMO's can be most helpful. HMO’s can provide realistic costs and define what "basic" coverage can be realistically be provided within such costs parameters.
The current 1000+ pages bills or any massive bill needs to be scrapped ! President Obama, send Congress back to the drawing board. Produce a realistic bill that is readable and read by each and every member of Congress, and can be understood by the general public; and that specifically defines " what you pay, and what you get ". The current U.S. health distribution system needs to be tweeked not replaced.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Health Care Reform - Open Letter to President & Congress
Dear President Obama, Senators and Representatives:
Yes, the U.S. needs health care reform BUT NOT AT ANY COST. I have reviewed various snippets from the 850+ page draft bills that have been circulating in the House and Senate. I am very disappointed in both House and Senate versions, and both represent a step backward regarding health care reform.
Massive bills ( any Bill over 50 pages, let alone the gargantuan 850+ pages health care versions ) have the probability that not less then 33% will be subject to Fraud amounting to billions of dollars of waste. IT IS TIME FOR THE PRESIDENT, SENATE AND HOUSE TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD, and craft a health care reform package and bill, consisting of not more then 35-50 pages, readable ( and is read and singed off by every Senator and Representative ) and comprehensible by the average U.S. Citizen.
Current versions of health care reform, essentially rob senior Medicare recipients of current benefits in order to pay for the health care of virtually everyone who is in, or makes it to the U.S. Acceptable health care reform must be limited to U.S. citizens who have continuously resided in the U.S. for seven(7)consecutive years. Existing Medicare benefits should be left in place, and a form of basic coverage for eligible U.S. citizens with initial premiums of $96.40 per month per individual, and $250.00 per month for a qualifying family of four should be provided. All health care premiums should remain fully deductible and employer benefits should not be taxed.
A National Health Care Trust should be established, and Congress should be prohibited from dipping into or "borrowing" from the NHC Trust for any purpose or reason. The NHC Trust Account would be held at and by the Federal Reserve, and contributions to such an account could be made through any FDIC insured Federal Reserve Bank. Contributions to the account would be voluntary and fully deductible by any individual, person, trust, association, corporation or entity making the same.Proceeds of the fund would be used to defer the costs of basic health care coverage for qualifying U.S. citizens who are unable to make the premium payments for basic coverage.
A majority of citizens are in favor of health care reform, but opposed to the proposed versions in the form of bills now circulating in the Senate and House of Representatives. It is unnecessary to "break to bank" to have meaningful health care reform, but there is much more work that needs to be done by the Administration, Senate and House of Representatives before a coherent, readable and financially feasible health care reform package is formulated.
Respectfully,
D. Citizen
Yes, the U.S. needs health care reform BUT NOT AT ANY COST. I have reviewed various snippets from the 850+ page draft bills that have been circulating in the House and Senate. I am very disappointed in both House and Senate versions, and both represent a step backward regarding health care reform.
Massive bills ( any Bill over 50 pages, let alone the gargantuan 850+ pages health care versions ) have the probability that not less then 33% will be subject to Fraud amounting to billions of dollars of waste. IT IS TIME FOR THE PRESIDENT, SENATE AND HOUSE TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD, and craft a health care reform package and bill, consisting of not more then 35-50 pages, readable ( and is read and singed off by every Senator and Representative ) and comprehensible by the average U.S. Citizen.
Current versions of health care reform, essentially rob senior Medicare recipients of current benefits in order to pay for the health care of virtually everyone who is in, or makes it to the U.S. Acceptable health care reform must be limited to U.S. citizens who have continuously resided in the U.S. for seven(7)consecutive years. Existing Medicare benefits should be left in place, and a form of basic coverage for eligible U.S. citizens with initial premiums of $96.40 per month per individual, and $250.00 per month for a qualifying family of four should be provided. All health care premiums should remain fully deductible and employer benefits should not be taxed.
A National Health Care Trust should be established, and Congress should be prohibited from dipping into or "borrowing" from the NHC Trust for any purpose or reason. The NHC Trust Account would be held at and by the Federal Reserve, and contributions to such an account could be made through any FDIC insured Federal Reserve Bank. Contributions to the account would be voluntary and fully deductible by any individual, person, trust, association, corporation or entity making the same.Proceeds of the fund would be used to defer the costs of basic health care coverage for qualifying U.S. citizens who are unable to make the premium payments for basic coverage.
A majority of citizens are in favor of health care reform, but opposed to the proposed versions in the form of bills now circulating in the Senate and House of Representatives. It is unnecessary to "break to bank" to have meaningful health care reform, but there is much more work that needs to be done by the Administration, Senate and House of Representatives before a coherent, readable and financially feasible health care reform package is formulated.
Respectfully,
D. Citizen
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Political Contributions = BIG AIG $$$$$$ REWARDS
Obama was voted in to "change" Washington. The only change appears to be the party, now Democrats, that get "pay" to "play". AIG "invested" $100,000.+ in Senator Dodd, Senate Banking Chair, and $100,000.+ in Obama, now President. What AIG bought for these contributions was the AIG "loophole" Senator Dodd inserted in the massive, 1100+ page, American Recovery/Stimulus Act, Pub. Law 111-5, a loophole that has cost U.S. taxpayers $165,000,000. million in AIG bonuses to date and likely much more in the future. What a return for the AIG $200,000.00 investment !!, $165 million in less then 1 year !!! Political investments continue to pay off BIG, VERY BIG, by comparison to the paltry return hard working, main-street, Americans can get on bank CD's. The thing that has changed in Washington is BIGGER BONUSES for those who make significant campaign contributions. This is just the start, there are lots of "loopholes" in the 1100+ pages of Pub.Law 111-5, that will cost taxpayers many, many more billions and bankrupt future generations of citizens.
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