About Democrats...

Pretty fascinating video here: http://www.thefederalistpapers.org/us/must-see-video-the-real-truth-about-democrats Every political party has it's issues. But lets get the facts straight.

Waitaminute....

Remember DOMA? The Defense of Marriage Act? The Act passed by congress and signed into law by President Clinton in 1996? It defined marriage for federal purposes as the union of one man and one woman, and allowed states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages granted under the laws of other states. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_of_Marriage_Act)

This law was challenged  and overturned in 2013. In the majority opinion on the case, SCOTUS said the following (http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/12pdf/12-307_6j37.pdf):

• "DOMA, because of its reach and extent, departs from this history and tradition of reliance on state law to define marriage."
• "DOMA’s unusual deviation from the usual tradition of recognizing and accepting state definitions of marriage here operates to deprive same-sex couples of the benefits and responsibilities that come with the federal recognition of their marriages."
• "The avowed purpose and practical effect of the law here in question are to impose a disadvantage, a separate status, and so a stigma upon all who enter into same-sex marriages made lawful by the unquestioned authority of the States."
• "The history of DOMA’s enactment and its own text demonstrate that interference with the equal dignity of same-sex marriages, a dignity conferred by the States in the exercise of their sovereign power, was more than an incidental effect of the federal statute."

Ok waitaminute. Are the States sovereign or not? In the DOMA ruling, SCOTUS said they are. Yet in the decision last week, SCOTUS completely contradicted what they said in the DOMA decision. So last week, SCOTUS took the 10th Amendment and flushed it down the toilet.

"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people"

For those of you who haven't bothered to read it: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution.html

Cotton candy Islam

But Muslims who call the Islamic State un-Islamic are typically, as the Princeton scholar Bernard Haykel, the leading expert on the group’s theology, told me, “embarrassed and politically correct, with a cotton-candy view of their own religion” that neglects “what their religion has historically and legally required.” Many denials of the Islamic State’s religious nature, he said, are rooted in an “interfaith-Christian-nonsense tradition.”  
http://www.theatlantic.com/features/archive/2015/02/what-isis-really-wants/384980/

Been tellin' ya.

No Guns? No Problem. No patronage at your store.

Dear Panera Bread, Target, Starbucks, (and any other establishment that I find has this type of policy) you have lost my business. Your anti-gun stance is idiotic.

You have made your stores killing zones for criminals who want to harm people. You have made it safe for them to come to your stores to kill.

Do you really think that your policy or signs will keep criminals with intent to harm and kill out of your stores? Do you think the mass murderer who walks up and see the sign on your door that says "No Guns" is going to get frustrated and take their guns somewhere else to kill? No. They're going to laugh and walk right in and start shooting.

And now you've made it to where law-abiding citizens can't shop/eat at your establishments with the ability to protect themselves and stop the person killing all your customers.

I hope and pray that this never happens at any of your stores (or anywhere else for that matter), but we all know that in reality it is just a matter of time.

I will avoid places like yours that prevent me from protecting myself and my family.

Ron Shaich, this "warm environment" you want to establish at Panera would be maintained if I brought my gun in. Why? Cause it's legally concealed, and the only way any of your precious customers would even know I had it would be if I had to pull it out to stop the criminal that just came in your store and started shooting everyone.

By the way, I love your shortbread pastries. I will miss them.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/clareoconnor/2014/09/08/panera-bread-ceo-dont-bring-your-guns-into-our-restaurants/

Philippines Mission 2014

As my son prepares to return to the Philippines for another mission trip, I'm recalling the devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan last November.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typhoon_Haiyan


Typhoon Haiyan, known as Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines, was an exceptionally powerful tropical cyclone that devastated portions of Southeast Asia, particularly the Philippines, in November 8, 2013. It is the deadliest Philippine typhoon on record,^[1] killing at least 6,201 people in that country alone.^[2] Haiyan is also the strongest storm recorded at landfall, and unofficially the strongest typhoon ever recorded in terms of wind speed.^[3] As of January, 2014, bodies are still being found.^[4]


So many lives lost and so much destruction and suffering was caused. Fortunately, the area Austin visited was not as devastated as other areas. However, the country is still reeling from this disaster and they can still use all the aid they can get.


If you are unable to go there yourself to help, consider assisting someone else that can. Every donation, no matter how small, is greatly appreciated. If a lot of people do just a little bit, miracles can happen. If you are able, please donate whatever God leads you to, to this worthy effort. Your donation will help change lives and will glorify God.

The "Affordable" Healthcare Act.....

Well, the healthcare marketplace thingy is open. And now the lies are beginning to be exposed. Or confirmed. Or re-lied. Or covered up and sugarcoated.

Taxes, fees, and more lies.

Remember back in September 2009 when Mr. Obama said that requiring health insurance (individual mandate) is NOT a tax increase? (http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/09/20/obama.health.care/)

"For us to say you have to take responsibility to get health insurance is absolutely not a tax increase," Obama said in response to persistent questioning, later adding: "Nobody considers that a tax increase."

Cool. Wait.....

Remember back in June 2012 when the Supreme court said that as a fee or fine (penalty) the individual mandate would be unconstitutional, however it is Constitutional as a tax? (http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/28/politics/supreme-court-health-ruling/index.html)

"It is reasonable to construe what Congress has done as increasing taxes on those who have a certain amount of income, but choose to go without health insurance," Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the majority opinion. "Such legislation is within Congress's power to tax." He later added: "The federal government does not have the power to order people to buy health insurance. ... The federal government does have the power to impose a tax on those without health insurance."

Now that the healthcare marketplace is available.... guess what? It's not a tax anymore! It's a FEE! A PENATLY! (https://www.healthcare.gov/get-covered-a-1-page-guide-to-the-health-insurance-marketplace/, https://www.healthcare.gov/what-if-someone-doesnt-have-health-coverage-in-2014/)

"If you don’t have coverage in 2014, you’ll have to pay a penalty of $95 per adult, $47.50 per child, or 1% of your income (whichever is higher). The fee increases every year."

So, lets take a look at these "affordable" healthcare plans. By the way, for all you folks who voted for Obama and cheering on the "free health insurance" you thought you were going to get... There's no such thing as free.

What's it gonna cost?

According to the Obamacare site, "The plans are presented in 5 categories: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Catastrophic" (https://www.healthcare.gov/health-plan-information/)

One caveat here. I am not going to be able to give final prices without filling out an application, and I sure as heck am not going to be filling out an application, so these prices may vary. I'm going to show the prices as listed for my state and county (Shelby County in Alabama), and my situation (Family with both parents) As the site says, family size and income affect the final price:

"IMPORTANT NOTE: The prices here don’t reflect the lower costs an applicant may qualify for based on household size and income. Many people who apply will qualify for reduced costs through tax credits that are automatically applied to monthly premiums. These credits will significantly lower the prices shown for a majority of those applying. Final price quotes are available only after someone has completed a Marketplace application."

In my area there are 2 companies listed for healthcare insurance providers. Humana Insurance Company and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama. Both are offering PPO type plans. These figures are per month and are straight from the https://www.healthcare.gov/how-do-i-choose-marketplace-insurance/ website as of the writing of this post. By the way, this is just the monthly premium, not the copays, coinsurance and deductibles.

Humana Catastrophic: $473.50
Humana Bronze: $622.96
Humana Silver: $706.50
Humana Gold: $805.82
Humana Platinum: $908.50

BCBSAL Blue Protect Catastrophic: $497.94
BCBSAL Blue Saver Bronze: $575.72
BCBSAL Blue Value Silver: $713.56
BCBSAL Blue Saver Silver: $756.90
BCBSAL Blue Value Gold: $923.62
BCBSAL Blue Choice Platinum: $1111.46

Welcome to the world of "Free" healthcare. You can estimate your costs with the Kaiser Family Foundation health insurance costs and savings calculator. (https://www.healthcare.gov/how-can-i-get-an-estimate-of-costs-and-savings-on-marketplace-health-insurance/)

I plugged in my numbers and it says I would pay, for me and my family (taking in account the $1,691 annual tax subsidy they say I would get):

Catastrophic: "With a catastrophic plan, you would pay out-of-pocket for most health services until you reach the annual limit on cost sharing ($12,700 in 2014)."
Bronze: $791.66
Silver: "The plan will pay for 70% of expenses in total for covered benefits, with enrollees responsible for the rest"
Gold: Not listed
Platinum: Not listed

Based on the website , all plans cover "10 essential health benefits"  which include the following:

• ambulatory patient services
• emergency services
• hospitalization
• maternity and newborn care
• mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment
• prescription drugs
• rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices
• laboratory services
• preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management
• pediatric services, including oral and vision care.

This page shows an example of the difference between plans. Basically the more of a premium you pay, the lower percentage you pay when you actually use healthcare. So, if you have to see a doctor and get medicine, you'll pay a percentage of that cost on top of what you are already paying for the monthly premium. Here's how it shakes out for that:

Bronze plan: 40%

Silver plan: 30%

Gold plan:  20%

Platinum plan: 10%

So if I'm on a Bronze plan and take my child to the dermatologist for severe acne, and they prescribe Accutane, I can expect to pay my monthly premium of $791.66 PLUS 40% of  doctors charges and medicine costs. Lets just say the doctor is pretty cheap and only charges $100 for the office visit. My part of that is $40. Accutane is a pretty expensive drug and my 40% of about $420 (actual cost when we had to get it for one of my kids) comes to $168. So I've just paid $208 for a doctor visit and 1 month supply of medicine under Obamacare.

Under my current plan, I pay $439 monthly premium ($352.66 less than Obamacare Bronze), I pay a $30 office visit copay ($10 less than Obamacare Bronze) and $30 for a premium level medication ($130 less than Obamacare). Therefore, under the Affordable Healthcare Act, for one month's premium, 1 doctor office visit, and 1 month supply of medication, I will pay $500.66 MORE than I do now.

I currently pay $439/month in healthcare insurance. This is expected to rise by as much as 30% next year (if our employer still offers it!) thanks to Obamacare. Affordable? For those of you that voted for Obama and our current set of Democratic congress, when will you pull your heads out of your collective socialist asses?

Here comes Obamacare!