Liberals and the Tea Party

One thing I don’t understand is the left’s displeasure with Tea Party activists. The political definition of liberal is “Favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress, and tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others”.

Every time a democratic member of congress discusses the Tea Parties, they take every chance to denounce them as an arm of the Republican party, call them astroturf as opposed to grass roots, call them racist, Nazis, use sexual slurs to describe them (teabaggers), etc. Doesn’t sound very tolerant to me.

In all actuality, the Tea Party movement was borne from not only classic conservatism–fiscal responsibility & states rights–but also classic liberalism–individual rights and freedoms.

So really, both liberals and conservatives should be embracing the Tea Party movement. Instead, big spending conservatives have “denounced” their old ways (yeah, right) and are trying to co-opt the movement while liberals denounce the entire movement based on the lunatic fringe.

The only political party truly supporting the movement is the Libertarian Party. While they denounce the lunatic fringe of the movement, which every movement/party has, they support the principles the movement was founded upon.

Don’t let the media reports fool you. The Tea Party movement isn’t all racist and full of hate. News programs only run stories that they believe will get them the highest ratings, just like newspapers will run stories they believe will sell more papers. The vast majority of the movement are sensible people who want a smaller and fiscally responsible government.

Respect for families at funerals

Below is a copy of a letter I wrote my congressmen in support of legislation that would bar protesters from protesting at funerals. Take a moment to read it and, if you agree, voice your own support. Permission to use my letter is granted. Please help make sure a family’s privacy is respected during the most difficult of times. The letter is short, to the point, and respectful:

I’ve been getting updated on the Westboro Baptist Church case recently and I want to voice my support for legislation that will prohibit protesters from disrupting funerals to voice their dissent on certain issues. I fully respect an individual’s right to free speech and to peaceably assemble, but to draw attention to your cause by disrespecting a fallen soldier, or the recently deceased, and adding to the pain the family must endure is reprehensible and unforgivable. The families’ right to privacy must be protected. Please help to ensure this practice is not allowed to continue.

Healthcare costs rise because of government

Why is it so hard for people to see the government’s culpability in rising healthcare costs? Is it because they don’t wanna see?

Consider this: by the White House’s own admission, the government controls $.49 of every $1 spent on healthcare thru Medicare, Medicaid, and other programs. Medicare & Medicaid reimburse physicians at lower rates than private insurers. Lower reimbursement rates lead doctors to increase costs to private insurers to make up the difference. Increased cost to private insurers lead to increased rates for consumers.

Again, why is it so hard for people to see this simple logic? The thought that more government control over healthcare will lower costs is counterintuitive.

I’M NOT RACIST, YOU MORONS!

So, I keep reading comments about how opponents of ObamaCare only oppose it because they’re afraid of a black man in charge. I’m sure there’s a small fraction of the opposition that feels that way. The vast majority, however, oppose the substance/process/lack of transparency/closed door meetings/backroom deals/hidden costs/etc.

I’ve heard cogent arguments from both sides. I’ve heard lies from both sides. I’ve heard hate spewed from both sides. I’ve read studies on this (and past republican reform proposals). I’ve decided that with the doc fix (not passing the 21% Medicare payment cuts), administrative costs, unconstitutional mandates, higher taxes, etc, it’s not the best way to reform the health insurance industry.

Do these reasons make me racist or afraid of a black man in charge? Or do they make me informed and opinionated? I know my reasons. It’s up to you to make up your own mind.

$1,115

So, the White House has started a by-the-numbers campaign on their blog in which each day they’ll use a different number to make their case for healthcare reform. Today’s number: $1,115.

Why $1,115 you ask? Well, that’s the average monthly cost for employer-sponsored coverage in America, costing over $13,000/year. What they fail to mention (credit to Mark Knoller for reporting this) is that employees pay about 28% of the cost with the employer paying the rest. So, the employee pays an average of $292.92/month.

Kinda puts things in perspective. $1,115/month doesn’t sound so daunting anymore, does it?

UI Extensions Raise Unemployment, Not Lower It

So, all the talk about extending unemployment benefits lately has got me thinking. Instead of extending the benefits for everyone receiving them, why not just extend the benefits for those who have secured a job but don’t start immediately?

All extending the benefits for everyone does is subsidize a nonproductive sector of the country. It continues to discourage those people from looking for a job, keeping unemployment numbers at inflated rates. If people knew their benefits would expire, they’d search for a job day in & day out.

Now before you go thinking I’m just a callous, cold-hearted SOB, you should know I’m one of those poor unfortunate souls currently collecting unemployment. I lost my job September 18, 2009. I make enough with my benefits to get by. What incentive do I have to search for a job if my unemployment benefits keep getting extended?

Luckily, I have a job lined up that starts a few months from now (between June & Dec). I have a contact in a high place that has more or less told me I have a job when he starts hiring.

But I still will have been unemployed for at least 9 months, maybe longer) by the time I start. I will still be collecting unemployment by the time I start working again. I have no encouragement to look for a job to hold me over till my friend calls.

Sure, there aren’t as many companies hiring as there were three years ago. Yeah, it’ll be harder for those looking to find a job. But extending unemployment benefits is not the way to encourage them to look or to encourage companies to hire (the latter is a subject I won’t look into here, but there is a way to do it that isn’t happening).

I’m not saying end the benefits immediately for those currently receiving them, only that they need to be allowed to expire.

Update: 4/13/2010: Found out yesterday that I exhausted my benefits a week too late to qualify for an extension. Despite my feelings on extending unemployment benefits, I couldn’t help for my initial reaction to be one of contempt for congress (both sides) not passing an extension before they recessed for Easter holiday.

But then I reminded myself of what I wrote in this post. I stand by what I’ve written. Although this will be a difficult period for me, I will get through this. I have a tremendous support system in my family & friends.