There is no Bigfoot
A quick Google search of "free" results in over 3 billion entries, and in only .22 seconds. We have an unhealthy obsession with the adverb "free" in this country that is causing our nation to decay from within. Too many people in the United States have been lured into believing that there is such a thing as "free." Free: without cost, or payment. Like sirens in Greek Mythology politicians and companies sing out the words, and we all want to believe so badly that we lose our grip on reality. "Free" is the Lochness Monster. You might talk yourself into believing that you caught a glimpse of it through the fog in the moonlight. The reality is you saw a log, and it's time to grow up. I had a great conversation the other day with a really sweet, young, hard-working, single mom. The discussion turned to health insurance, and she told me she is all set because she has a medical card. "It's great," she said with a geniune smile, "because it's free." She was talking about Medicaid, and she unknowingly hit the home run that helped me to see the problem we have in this state and in this nation. To her it is free, but there is a massive cost associated with it, and she has to understand that. Everyone has to understand that. When I sit down to do my taxes here in a few days, I'm going to write two checks, one to the Illinois Department of Revenue, and one to the United States Treasury, both of which will use a portion of that money to pay for her healthcare. Then, when my health insurer takes their monthly allowance for my health insurance premium, a portion of that will go to into the fund that pays for CHIPS, which is a state funded insurance exchange. Then when I go to the doctor, a portion of the money I and my private insurer pay to the medical provider will go to underwrite the cost they incur from providing care to Medicaid recipients, for which the state pays only a fraction of the true cost of care, and 6 months late at that. 100% of her healthcare cost is underwritten by our tax money, and by bonds that Illinois sells at the highest interest rate of any state in the union to pay unpaid bills. Enter Barak Obama, who by some self-fabricated constitutional authority has decreed that all insurance companies will provide "free" birth control. I don't care what you think about the politics of abortion and birth control. Before you get fired up over abortion and birth control, please re-read the prior sentence. The point is, the battle over the definition of "free" is already lost. It's assumed in this presidential fiat, that somehow Obama has the authority to make something "free." No one has that authority. Remember, without cost or payment, right? Does anyone really believe that? Somebody always pays. Why is it that as consumers we're skeptical of the word "free," but as citizens we eat it up like Halloween candy? IL democrat leaders who have essentially been in control of the Illinois House of Representatives for the last 28 years , have decided that it is perfectly acceptable to run budget deficits in the billions of dollars. To stay in power, they have persuaded, tricked, coerced and convinced just enough of the Illinois electorate into believing that all these pensions and services they provide are free. The cold, hard, unchangeable, rock solid rule of life is that nothing is free. The same electorate that has keeps Mike Madigan in control of the IL House is currently rioting in the streets and burning down buildings in Greece now that the bills are coming due. They are shutting down ports in Oakland, and camping out in tents in public parks in Washington, D.C. They are demanding that someone else pay their mortgages. They are demanding that someone else pay for their healthcare. They are demanding that someone else pay for their education and student loans. They are demanding that someone gives them a job. They are quite demanding, are they not? I hear the term "sustainability" tossed about by global warming fanatics quite often. Funny, it seldom enters into any serious discussion of state or federal government budgets, despite the fact that both budgetary courses are unsustainable by any measure. There is no such thing as free healthcare. There is no such thing as free contraception. There is no such thing as Bigfoot. Any attempt to convince us otherwise amounts to nothing more than theater at it's best, and lying at it's worst. Until we as a community, a state, and a nation demand true fiscal accountability from our leaders in governement instead of allowing ourselves to be hypnotized by their siren calls, we are destined to fail.
Yeah, Bluegrass, I think
Yeah, Bluegrass, I think you're being lulled into a morality that supports pulling plugs you wouldn't want pulled. The 1% has decided "game's up." Building a system that was unsustainable from jump street, the 1% has decided we need the debt to go toward military defense of their property, not the pay-off that was welfare. Welfare was the Great Compromise to balance cheap labor/greater profits in foreign lands and the subsequent domestic unemployment/underemployment. No more good paying jobs here, but don't riot about it, here is a monthly check. (As long as you don't get married.) By the way, where does the monthly check go? Back to the power companies, the real estate landlords, the corporate grocery stores, and consumer products pumped out by the corporations. Welfare may be one gigantic, economic stimulus package using poor people as the conduit. The Plantation/ Reservation mentality has remained final solutions for the 1% planners while they offer cheaply made, unhealthy products- the more addictive the better.
Allowing disease to go unfettered among poor populations is not in the interest of the middle class or upper class. Disease doesn't discriminate. Illinois is the canary in the coal mine- now that the Medicaid cuts have become law- which hospital will dare to carry out the consequences? Which hospital will be first to allow a patient to die on the emergency room driveway?
Have "free" checks, "free" services corrupted the mentality/morality of generations of some poor people? Sure. It's very sad to see the erosion of skill and ingenuity that has befallen so many because they can go stand in line somewhere and maintain. But really, Bluegrass, has all the free stuff that's been given away ever diminished the growth and prosperity of the corporations? How many 18 year-olds have afforded tuition out of their own pockets? The Government did its job. It kept the peace while the pirates raided the land and people. How will you tell the "really sweet, young, hard-working, single mom": "Sorry, no healthcare for you."...? What's the outgame then?
Your understanding of the Occupy Movement is so incredibly shallow, you really have bought the Limbaugh-nics on that one.
Your post has some formatting
Your post has some formatting issues, but I like its message.
Bluegrass,I’m glad you
Bluegrass,
I’m glad you enjoyed it, but as for “defending” Ron Paul – I was not aware that my services were ever involved in such an act and would appreciate you point such an event out to me.
Dr. Paul is a bit on the extreme right for me, as his “Liberterian” lean is so pronounced as to be almost horizontal to the right. Dr. Paul does offer some very good ideas for solving some very problematic issues in our current governance that has become fully dysfunctional.
And WWRPS?
Well most of the welfare system could be disassembled by creating a society based upon individual responsibility. But until you have fiscal responsibility by all interested parties you can never support the populations aspirations.
As for the occupy movement, Dr. Paul had some very nice words about them and never discredited their intentions, as they were calling for some of the same accountability that he has for years.
Yes you may find some signs that say “free” but from what source did you see these, was it from the1% owned media? Would love for you to provide some examples for us.
And could you do me a favor and define who you think are the 1%.
As for “taking” from the 1%, I don’t recall ever hearing that expression used by occupiers, it was a phrase coined by the 1% media rotweilers like Limbaugh. Because all I ever saw from the movement was the call for accountability and the opportunity to participate on a level playing field.
Yes there was a rape at an occupation, as were many other rapes across the country during the same period in homes and business and other venues, a horrible crime that continues to this day. It was a community like any other, with all its weakness and faults, but focused on by the 1% owned media.
But as for the unrest, it only came after what you see here occurred. And I want you to tell me what you think after viewing this – does this make you proud of America today?
http://blog.alexanderhiggins.com/2012/03/21/outlaw-occupy-herd-em-6700-d...
A dying imperial nation that allows unfettered control of the population by ENFORCEMENT personnel who are above the law.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79CjhrVP740&feature=player_embedded#!
As for the TEA Party, it has suffered the same fate at the occupiers, at the hands of the 1%. Although both parties were trying to achieve the same thing from different angles, they were both a threat to the 1% who control us all and needed liquidating. And what better way than to pit one against the other and discredit them at every opportunity through their media control.
As for the health care reform, once again the 1% Bigfoot who manipulates all the major control points - a profit based system built not upon minimization through optimized prevention, but maximum return on ever increasing patient consumption. Unlike all other countries who keep their cost down and cover ALL their citizens, by demanding accountability at all levels.
But then it really does not matter, as millions have been trained to believe that fellow citizens protesting for accountability and the right to fair opportunities are the enemy, while the real enemy continues unchecked, to usher in the New World Order that the Bushes so loved to talk about.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-garrison/martial-law-under-another_b_1370819.html
To our New York Banking Agents (circa 1800). “The few who can understand the system will be either so interested in its profits, or so dependent on its favours, that there will be no opposition from that class, while, on the other hand, that great body of people, mentally incapable of comprehending the tremendous advantage that Capital derives from the system, will bear its burden without complaint and, perhaps, without even suspecting that the system is inimical to their interests.”
Bluegrass,Ah, but there is a
Bluegrass,
Ah, but there is a Bigfoot and its footprint is all over our behinds and kicks our butts down the road everyday. It’s called corpocracy, wherein corporate powers control not only our working lives, but our political processes, medical protocols, contaminated food that we eat and education that is 27th in the world.
You are absolutely correct when you point out the current mindset of the American people, wherein they believe, there are things that are free. However to blame the Democrats for all our monetary ills of Illinois is disingenuous, since every political operative regardless of political affiliations believes the same, even Republicans.
This “free” money mentality extends from aid recipients to the most proclaimed conservative. I’ve sat in Vermilion County board meetings and heard alleged “conservative” Republican members, confirm that the money they would spend on a given project was being funded from Illinois or Federal coffers, before voting for the appropriations.
This free money from somewhere else is so pervasive and corrupting that to a man, all of the alleged conservatives on the Vermilion County board, unanimously voted to spend millions of our tax dollars, in funding the new wind-turbine cluster in Vermilion and Champaign Counties.
So when I hear of the perceived conservative nature of Republicans, I just want to wretch, because from countless personally observations, they are as pernicious in spending our money as anyone else. The only difference is that Democrats spend it on people and Republicans give it to corporations.
Now to the nit-picking portion of my post.
I was not aware that “Barak Obama, who by some self-fabricated constitutional authority has decreed that all insurance companies will provide "free" birth control.” Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t the “providing” of birth control by health “insurers”, paid for by insurance premiums, part of the National Health Care Program?
Yes, there are probably millions of welfare recipients who may receive “free” (and yes nothing is free) birth control. But what would you rather pay for, cheep birth control or lifelong aid for an unwanted child?
And let’s not forget the dramatic reduction in violent crime that began exactly 18 years after Roe-v-Wade, crimes that continue to this day to be a static or in some areas a downward social trend. Something that can be directly attributable to the dramatic reduction in un-wanted pregnancies.
Furthermore, are you trying to tell us that the same folks protesting in Greece, are Illinoisians who vote in this nations elections? I’m finding much of this just a bit to disjointed to accept and can almost guarantee where you’re getting your information from, but won’t go there, as the demigod is already in the down hill slide for calling a young decent woman, slanderous names.
As for the occupiers, first of all, it would be nice if you could give us some links in supporting your assertions that the occupiers want things “free”. Personally I’ve never seen such a statement from them, as they were pretty busy, trying to address the “inequalities” in our society.
From your statements I assume you agree that the 1% deserve to own everything we have around us. That banks should continue to create Ponzi schemes to enslave us through usury and then demand we pay them blackmail (bailout) money so they can do it again. That Corporations should never be responsible to the community in which our infrastructures feed their profitability, on which they never pay taxes. That the health care industry should forever be profit based and controlled by the people who build designer drugs which never heal but only maintain symptoms. That government regulations should continue to be written by international chemical giants, who increasingly poison our food as they hide the ingredients from us. Of the oil industry that gets billions in tax payers dollars to improve their bottom line as they gouge us at the pump, while calling it free enterprise. Etc, etc, etc, etc, etc.
Yes those occupy folks are horrible, horrible people for trying to correct these wonderful things that the 1% of American’s enjoy (such as talk show hosts) and should be ashamed of themselves for trying to peacefully bring about changes. How dare they draw attention to the Bigfoot who kicks our butts, and picks our pockets and give little in return as the “free” tax credits and tax assistance power their international profitability each day.
And how dare they call for a national health care system! Don’t they know that the current “enslavement” model works perfectly well, keeping employees tied to their jobs for fear of loosing their healthcare. My goodness what would happen if people no longer had to grovel and stay in their jobs, what if they were free to go and be entrepreneurs to begin new ventures – chaos my friend chaos - as “The Man” would no longer have its hobnailed boot upon the neck of the worker, like it is today.
How dare they indeed, those horrible occupiers!
How ironic, CAPTCHA wants the word "occupies" to let me post.
You've got a point there, in
You've got a point there, in your opinion, but it could be better stated, clarified.
There is no such thing as a "free" lunch, as stated so well by RA Heinlein in "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress".
So, the only question, in providing the public with personal benefits is this one: who should pay, who should be taxed, how, why, when?
That, too, is precisely the question every business, every person asks, about any transaction, is the present and prospective value of this deal "worth" it or not?
So, the Illinois legislature, for instance, has decided to take from some to endow others with a benefit. We can hope they are wise. But, when would that be the case? Surely, for instance, there are some truly needy cases, where public altruism is appropriate -- where the force of the many, in their own consciences, would suggest that all ought to be compelled, by law, to help such as those in such a dire need.
If not, then I suggest you find an island all of your own upon which to live, never to burden any of us further with your petty selfish egocentricities.
So, presuming that there is at least some altruism, some recognition of our duty to other people, perhaps less fortunate than ourselves, the question is one of balancing our responsibilities -- of which needs of the many we attempt to address, as public policy -- of which needs we do not meet, for there will always be unmet needs, as well -- our charity is not as extensive as our compassion, alas.
Well, here I only argue a concept, of humanity, of what we owe one another, as against a selfish idea that we own all of our own selves, all of our own products and services.
We are not alone; we live and love together and must find ways to make our existences, all of us, tolerable, even possible.
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