There are approximately 45 Million uninsured people in the US today. There are about 300 + Million people in the US. So that 45 Million seems like a small percentage of the population, and in reality it is a small one, but it is not a small number. That is a lot of people that need health coverage. Also there are many people that fall into the 300+ million crew that have insurance but pay out the wazoo for it. (yes Wazoo is a word) There are also many people that are in that 300+ that get denied for services that they need.
Now before I move on, I don't want this to seem like I am a hate monger who does not want to help people, or that I think our current set-up is ok. I do not think that we are doing a good job here in the US with health insurance, and I do think that we need to help the 45 Million that are in need. (also quick side note that number is expected to climb to about 57 Million in the next decade) So with that said let me move onto why I don't like socialized medicine.
The reasons I dislike it is cause I firmly believe that it is not in line with the founding fathers plan for our country's govt, and its involvement with people. Also the other problem I have is in the name. "socialized" I am NOT A SOCIALIST nor do I think that there are any good things that can come from such type policies.
The National govt was never intended to manage our live to the degree that many progressives would like to. It was never intended to take away my right to be successful, or a failure. Yes being a failure is a right as crazy as that sounds. By having a socialized health care, or a Universal health care plan which is the same thing just a different name, we are giving away freedoms that are ours to have. I also do not want to fund it with my hard earned money that progressives seem to just want to take away from me.
If you make everyone have it or at least make everyone pay for it, then I am losing freedoms. Hillary's health care program "the American Health Choices" plan is almost devoid of all choices. You must have it, and also you will pay for it. All 110 billion dollars of it. Here let me write that out with numbers for you. that is $110,000,000,000! You see all those zeros? yea that is the size of four govt agencies.
Where do you think that money is going to come from? We can't pull it from the military or homeland security and other defense type agencies. So guess where it is coming from? That's right, you guessed it. YOU! it is coming from you and from your hard earned paycheck. If you don't know what that will feel like let me paint the picture for you. If you take your 50,000 a year salary that you make while living in the state of Virginia and you are a single person with no Dependants you will pay in the vicinity of about 14,400 dollars in taxes between state and federal. That also does include social security ect. That is a big number. Guess what? if we are going to have our 110,000,000,000 dollar plan that 14,400 will go up. How like 40% in taxes sound to you? Yea it could get there. Hope not, but it could.
So what I am trying to say is that it is expensive, and my faith in the govt ability to handle my money well is . . . .well there is none. Until they have Social Security fixed my faith is gone. So I just don't want to take my hard earned money and give more of it to the Govt than I have to, and I really don't want them to manage it at all.
So what do we do? Well the honest truth is, I don't know. I don't know what to do. There are a lot of people that need insurance, and either can't afford it, or can't get covered sure to health. We need to do something from them. I don't know how we are going to help them, and I recognize that there are people that honestly and truly need help as they just can't do it, and can't make it. I am not saying we turn our backs on them, I am just saying that the Federal Govt should not be the one to do it all, or at least should not be the money handlers.
We have a serious problem that needs to be fixed here, and it stems from all sorts of issues. Lets find a problem, but lets keep it out of the federal govts hands. I am ok with state govt taking care of business like Mitt Romney did in Mass. Also I am ok with private companies stepping up and making it happen.
I am truly sad that there are 47 million people with no insurance, and that there are many others that have it and can't get the care that they need and or can't afford it. I don't know what to do? I just don't think that we should get so caught up in trying to fix every ones problems that we give up our basic beliefs in freedom. We should find a solution where our freedom is maintained.
Is it really able to be fixed? Is it really as bad as it sounds? Is it really something that the Federal Govt should attempt to fix? Is it really giving up freedom for socialized health care? Sadly all of these questions I do not have the answer for, I just hope someone does.
*Blog inspired by conversation with J-slice
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Friday, February 22, 2008
Capital One, We Are Not Friends
The world in which we live in, is full of the buy now pay later mentality, even more so than most people want to believe. There are people who don’t even know that they believe this mentality. There are many companies that want nothing more than to have you believe this and to keep you enslaved to them through debt, because when you are in debt that is exactly what you are, enslaved to it.
There are approximately 641 million credit cards in circulation right now responsible for nearly 1.5 trillion dollars in spending. The scary part about that is there are only 303 million people in the US today. Credit cards are everywhere, and you almost can’t get away from them. All you need is a name to get one and start spending.
“But I pay mine off every month so I don’t ever have to pay the interest.” This may be the case, however you are the minority. In 2004 only 39% of credit card holders paid them off in full every month. Over 50% of Americans hold a balance on their credit card that remains every month. This amount gets interest applied to it, and presto the credit card companies make some good money. Also Cambridge Consumer Credit Index found that 47% of balance holders only make the minimum payment. Minimum payments don’t even touch the principle very much.
“I am using my card to build my credit score” Well that is a kind of catch-22 with that statement. You are implying with that statement that you intend to borrow money in the future. “I need the low interest rates in the future.” That is if you intend to borrow as well. Here is a novel idea for ya. Don’t buy something you don’t have the money for! Having a credit card builds credit true, but it does not build it very well if you just pay it off every month. It is built much faster when you have a balance that remains on it, and you pay at least the minimum on time every month.
“If I don’t build my credit score I will not be able to get a house.” To answer this one I am going to quote Dave Ramsey on this one.
“Since you aren’t “building your credit” you will need to find a mortgage company that does actual underwriting. That means they are professional enough to process the details of your life instead of using only a Beacon score (lending for dummies). You can qualify for a conventional 15-year fixed-rate loan if:
• You have paid your landlord early or on time for two years.
• You have been in the same career field for two years.
• You have a good down payment.
• You have no other credit.
• You are not trying to get too big a loan.”
So if you act your wage, and get a house that is within your means you will be able to get a house. Oh and just in case you are not sure if there are companies that will do this here is a good one that will. http://www.churchillmortgage.com/
I am not saying that credit does not matter or that good credit does not help. That is far from true as it does help and negative credit like unpaid debts and bankruptcy does hurt you, and makes life at times very hard to build. However, if you manage your finances well, and have no debt you will have money to buy things, and build wealth. Debt does not build wealth. A credit card will not make you rich. Having money and investing will make you rich. That is a whole other thing however. There is a whole other way of doing things other than using credit cards and getting loans for things. Budgeting correctly, saving correctly, acting your wage are other parts of the story that one must learn about.
I know I do not exude what I am preaching, and I am working on getting my life in order with this. I have only recently changed my views and ideals on debt and the way I spend money. I am actively working on safely eliminating all of my debt and building the correct savings for a down payment on my house. I do not want to live with debt for the rest of my life, but I want to build wealth and change my family tree.
“Live like no one else right now, so later you can live like no one else.” – Dave Ramsey
There are approximately 641 million credit cards in circulation right now responsible for nearly 1.5 trillion dollars in spending. The scary part about that is there are only 303 million people in the US today. Credit cards are everywhere, and you almost can’t get away from them. All you need is a name to get one and start spending.
“But I pay mine off every month so I don’t ever have to pay the interest.” This may be the case, however you are the minority. In 2004 only 39% of credit card holders paid them off in full every month. Over 50% of Americans hold a balance on their credit card that remains every month. This amount gets interest applied to it, and presto the credit card companies make some good money. Also Cambridge Consumer Credit Index found that 47% of balance holders only make the minimum payment. Minimum payments don’t even touch the principle very much.
“I am using my card to build my credit score” Well that is a kind of catch-22 with that statement. You are implying with that statement that you intend to borrow money in the future. “I need the low interest rates in the future.” That is if you intend to borrow as well. Here is a novel idea for ya. Don’t buy something you don’t have the money for! Having a credit card builds credit true, but it does not build it very well if you just pay it off every month. It is built much faster when you have a balance that remains on it, and you pay at least the minimum on time every month.
“If I don’t build my credit score I will not be able to get a house.” To answer this one I am going to quote Dave Ramsey on this one.
“Since you aren’t “building your credit” you will need to find a mortgage company that does actual underwriting. That means they are professional enough to process the details of your life instead of using only a Beacon score (lending for dummies). You can qualify for a conventional 15-year fixed-rate loan if:
• You have paid your landlord early or on time for two years.
• You have been in the same career field for two years.
• You have a good down payment.
• You have no other credit.
• You are not trying to get too big a loan.”
So if you act your wage, and get a house that is within your means you will be able to get a house. Oh and just in case you are not sure if there are companies that will do this here is a good one that will. http://www.churchillmortgage.com/
I am not saying that credit does not matter or that good credit does not help. That is far from true as it does help and negative credit like unpaid debts and bankruptcy does hurt you, and makes life at times very hard to build. However, if you manage your finances well, and have no debt you will have money to buy things, and build wealth. Debt does not build wealth. A credit card will not make you rich. Having money and investing will make you rich. That is a whole other thing however. There is a whole other way of doing things other than using credit cards and getting loans for things. Budgeting correctly, saving correctly, acting your wage are other parts of the story that one must learn about.
I know I do not exude what I am preaching, and I am working on getting my life in order with this. I have only recently changed my views and ideals on debt and the way I spend money. I am actively working on safely eliminating all of my debt and building the correct savings for a down payment on my house. I do not want to live with debt for the rest of my life, but I want to build wealth and change my family tree.
“Live like no one else right now, so later you can live like no one else.” – Dave Ramsey
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Glenn is bingeing and I am thinking about it too.
(Warning political content will follow)
Ok I know, I know I have been doing a lot of political blogging the last little bit, but right now that is what I need to blog about.
Right now it is super Tuesday. Glenn Beck is on CNN, and that is how I am staying up to date on who is ahead and who is behind. Well Glenn just now started eating a chocolate cake on air as a result of what is going down in the elections. I am thinking about joining him.
(Warning conservative views and opinions to follow!)
I have made my choice that I support Mitt Romney. He is my guy, and at this point I am not going to get into why he is my guy, but he just it. I am considering running too the store to get myself a cake to Binge on as well though. Democratic side it is still close with Hillary and Obama. Not the surprised there, but the Republican side is really getting me worked up. McCain is winning, and Romney is making a poor showing so far. It looks like it is going to be a McCain, Clinton, Obama race. hmmmm where does the conservative vote?
McCain is way too liberal for me to vote for him, but I would never ever vote for Obama or Clinton. What will I do if this happens? McCain is a liberal in the Republican party, he engages in Dirty Politics, and is more of the same thing in Washington. I don't want another Clinton in Office, and Obama just plain scares me. What am I supposed to do?!?!
GAAAAA!!!!!!! I know this is more of a vent than anything, but really if what I fear happens, and I think that it might, then I am not sure if I will even vote. We will need some help in the World if any of those three get into office. Oh but don't worry if Clinton makes it at least we can begin to make our move towards socialism, with good Ol'e Hillarycare which we must enroll in, but your not going to be forced to, you just have to do it. (yea I know, but I had just had to take a poke at her stupid health care plan.)
Ok I am done venting now, I'll just begin to enjoy keeping my hard earned money this year while I still can, oh also our sovereignty, national security, tax cuts, good economy, pro life, knowing that marriage will be defended, people still needing to work to get something(that one is loose already), a capitalist society as opposed to a socialist one, the freedom to leave a light on in my house, the government not controlling what I am going to do, and can do, tax cuts, National Security, oops already said those, the freedom to choose my own health care, the freedom to run my business the way that I want to, and . . ok I am going to stop now.
Ok I know, I know I have been doing a lot of political blogging the last little bit, but right now that is what I need to blog about.
Right now it is super Tuesday. Glenn Beck is on CNN, and that is how I am staying up to date on who is ahead and who is behind. Well Glenn just now started eating a chocolate cake on air as a result of what is going down in the elections. I am thinking about joining him.
(Warning conservative views and opinions to follow!)
I have made my choice that I support Mitt Romney. He is my guy, and at this point I am not going to get into why he is my guy, but he just it. I am considering running too the store to get myself a cake to Binge on as well though. Democratic side it is still close with Hillary and Obama. Not the surprised there, but the Republican side is really getting me worked up. McCain is winning, and Romney is making a poor showing so far. It looks like it is going to be a McCain, Clinton, Obama race. hmmmm where does the conservative vote?
McCain is way too liberal for me to vote for him, but I would never ever vote for Obama or Clinton. What will I do if this happens? McCain is a liberal in the Republican party, he engages in Dirty Politics, and is more of the same thing in Washington. I don't want another Clinton in Office, and Obama just plain scares me. What am I supposed to do?!?!
GAAAAA!!!!!!! I know this is more of a vent than anything, but really if what I fear happens, and I think that it might, then I am not sure if I will even vote. We will need some help in the World if any of those three get into office. Oh but don't worry if Clinton makes it at least we can begin to make our move towards socialism, with good Ol'e Hillarycare which we must enroll in, but your not going to be forced to, you just have to do it. (yea I know, but I had just had to take a poke at her stupid health care plan.)
Ok I am done venting now, I'll just begin to enjoy keeping my hard earned money this year while I still can, oh also our sovereignty, national security, tax cuts, good economy, pro life, knowing that marriage will be defended, people still needing to work to get something(that one is loose already), a capitalist society as opposed to a socialist one, the freedom to leave a light on in my house, the government not controlling what I am going to do, and can do, tax cuts, National Security, oops already said those, the freedom to choose my own health care, the freedom to run my business the way that I want to, and . . ok I am going to stop now.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
