Democrats Transparency Is A Fraud On The American People

Democratic claims that the government seizure of health care has been the most transparent process ever is a lie. It took me 30 seconds to come up with these headlines:

"Democrats are starting to mash together the Senate and House health-care bills, All of the negotiations taking place in secret." -- The Wall Street Journal, 1/2/10.

"After months of buildup, the historic debate on health care reform opens on the Senate floor Monday -- But the C-SPAN cameras won't see the real action." -- Politico, 11/30/09.

"Sen. Harry Reid is conducting 'backroom negotiations' to secure votes for the health care bill. -- Politico, 11/30/09.

"Small group now leads closed negotiations on health-care bill." -- The Washington Post, 10/18/09.

Obama lied so he could take over one sixth of the American economy. Now his enablers in the Congressional leadership are attempting to finish the job, an finish off the middle class in the process.

Big Congressional Bills

Basically, Congress only writes huge complicated bills when they want to hide pork and special interest preferences...How can I make that statement? Easy...

Homestead Act (1862) — 9 pages.

National Labor Relations Act (1935) [aka “Wagner Act”] — 25 pages.

Social Security Act (1935) — 82 pages.

Civil Rights Act (1964) — 74 pages.



So you see, it's not really necessary to write a hugely complicated bill that will change they way things are done in America unless you're trying to hide things...pork, and things lobbyist desire...but all those things end up screwing America. That means, Congress is corrupt and they all must go...

AP Finally Fact Checks Democrat Claims Of Health Insurance "Skyrocketing Profits"

WASHINGTON (AP) -- In the health care debate, Democrats and their allies have gone after insurance companies as rapacious profiteers making "immoral" and "obscene" returns while "the bodies pile up." But in pillorying insurers over profits, the critics are on shaky ground. Ledgers tell a different reality.

Profits barely exceeded 2 percent of revenues in the latest annual measure. This partly explains why the credit ratings of some of the largest insurers were downgraded to negative from stable heading into this year, as investors were warned of a stagnant if not shrinking market for private plans.

Insurers are an expedient target for leaders who want a government-run plan in the marketplace. Such a public option would force private insurers to trim profits and restrain premiums to compete, the argument goes. This would "keep insurance companies honest," says President Barack Obama.

The debate is loaded with intimations that insurers are less than straight, when they are not flatly accused of malfeasance.

A look at some claims, and the numbers:

THE CLAIMS

-"I'm very pleased that (Democratic leaders) will be talking, too, about the immoral profits being made by the insurance industry and how those profits have increased in the Bush years." House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who also welcomed the attention being drawn to insurers' "obscene profits."

-"Keeping the status quo may be what the insurance industry wants. Their premiums have more than doubled in the last decade and their profits have skyrocketed." Maryland Rep. Chris Van Hollen, member of the Democratic leadership.

-"Health insurance companies are willing to let the bodies pile up as long as their profits are safe." A MoveOn.org ad.

THE NUMBERS:

Health insurers posted a 2.2 percent profit margin last year, placing them 35th of 53 industries on the Fortune 500 list. As is typical, other health sectors did much better - drugs and medical products and services were both in the top 10.

The railroads brought in a 12.6 percent profit margin. Leading the list: network and other communications equipment, at 20.4 percent.

HealthSpring, the best performer in the health insurance industry, posted 5.4 percent. That's a less profitable margin than was achieved by the makers of Tupperware, Clorox bleach and Molson and Coors beers.

The star among the health insurance companies did, however, nose out Jack in the Box restaurants, which only achieved a 4 percent margin.

UnitedHealth Group, reporting third quarter results last week, saw fortunes improve. It managed a 5 percent profit margin on an 8 percent growth in revenue.

Van Hollen is right that premiums have more than doubled in a decade, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation study that found a 131 percent increase.

But were the Bush years golden ones for health insurers?

Not judging by profit margins, profit growth or returns to shareholders. The industry's overall profits grew only 8.8 percent from 2003 to 2008, and its margins year to year, from 2005 forward, never cracked 8 percent.

The latest annual profit margins of a selection of products, services and industries: Tupperware Brands, 7.5 percent; Yahoo, 5.9 percent; Hershey, 6.1 percent; Clorox, 8.7 percent; Molson Coors Brewing, 8.1 percent; construction and farm machinery, 5 percent; Yum Brands (think KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell), 8.5 percent.

It's almost like the Democrats are lying and merely trying to grab more power for the Federal Government. But, they'd never do that now would they. What really angers me is the simple fact that Congress has exempted themselves from the "government option" that they are planning to inflict upon the rest of us. I would be more inclined to accept it if they didn't say it was to be done equally to ALL American...not just those of us who aren't Federal Employees, or members of Congress or THEIR employees. That is wrong and sheer hypocracy.

Chris Dodd Wants To Move On

U.S. Sen. Christopher J. Dodd would have us believe that it's time to put the allegations of his corrupt dealings with Countrywide Financial VIP loans. He claims that those loans were legitimate and would be available to ANYONE who applied to Countrywide. The Senate Ethics Committee has "cleared" Dodd while the House is still "studying" what that side of Congress can do.

"I feel the matter's behind us,'' Dodd said. "We ought to move on.''

Personally, I believe that Mr. Dodd is extremely corrupt and only obtained the loans because he sat as Chair of the Senate Finance Committee. I'm fairly certain, actually I'm utterly certain that Countrywide wouldn't give me the time of day in the CEO's office where the loans originated, much less the rates that were given to Dodd and Sen Kent Conrad.

What infuriates me is the simple fact that Congress is unable for any reason to enforce any sort of ethics. Charley Rangel can get away for decades for not paying taxes, and he gets no fines, no criminal indictments, nothing. The Democratic Party is now at the centre of a horrendous cesspool of corruption that will never end, just as the Republicans were a few years ago. It never ends, just the party affiliation initials after the corrupt politician's name.

H.R. 735, also known as the “Rangel Rule Act of 2009.”

I fully support the Rangel Rule of 2009.

It's the work of Rep. John Carter, (R TX). H.R. 735 would require that the IRS to give exactly the same treatment to everyone it gave Charles Rangel (D NY) when it didn't require him to pay any penalties for not reporting rental income from a home he owns in the Caribbean.

The bill’s title is modeled on something known in Texas as the “Hobby Rule.” In the 1970s, Bill Hobby, then the state lieutenant governor, was pulled over for drunk driving. Hobby was taken to the police station, but when his attorney showed up in the wee hours of the morning, authorities simply let Hobby go — no bond, no nothing. That special treatment became a precedent for future drunk-driving cases, as lawyers cited the “Hobby Rule” to demand their clients be freed with no questions asked, just like Bill Hobby.

Thus the “Rangel Rule.” Under H.R. 735, if you’re caught cheating on your taxes, you simply pay what you owe, then write “Rangel Rule” at the top of your return, and you won’t be charged any penalty or interest. That way, Carter said when he introduced the bill, ordinary taxpayers will be “treated with the same courtesy that, it seems, the IRS is treating the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.”

Call or email your Congressmen/women and voice your support for the Act. Do so NOW!