Mike Peters Glenn Beck Cartoon

Obviously Mike Peters is a progressive. I can assume this by the Cartoon he created entitled “If Jesus returned as Glenn Beck”. It is also obvious that either Mike Peters has never listened to Glenn Beck himself or he is passing along the same lies that have been spread by the Left-wing Liberal Progressive Nuts. First, Glenn Beck is as strong a Christian as I have ever seen. Christians do not spout the drivel attributed to him in this horrendous cartoon. Second, none of the crap in this so called “Health Care” bill has anything to do with Christian Kindness as this cartoon implies. Lastly, let’s look at the actual facts of the matter:

• Glenn Beck and his followers, of which I am proudly one, do not believe the lie that Health Care is a right. Health Care is a commodity that is bought and sold by people and only God bestows rights…just as the Constitution declares.
• Glenn Beck does not say anyone in Obama’s administration is a communist except the Self Avowed Communist, Van Jones. Glenn Beck calls them what they are, Progressives and Marxists. Of course it doesn’t help when many of Obama’s Administration cite rights from the Communist Constitution of the USSR.
• Glenn Beck does not encourage people not to help their neighbors. In fact he talks only about the generosity of Americans and that the Government has no Constitutional right to demand charitable donations.

Just because the Obama Administration is attempting to employ the collapsing of the government tactics of radicals Ala the Cloward and Pivons philosophy and have verbally communicated their beliefs, do not accuse him of name calling. He is just informing us of their actions. Glenn Beck is touting Faith, Hope and Charity, all Christian Values. You see he has Faith in the American way and Constitution. He has Hope that Americans can peacefully return to the path that our Founding Fathers charted for us. And finally, he believes in the Generosity of Americans to provide charity as they always historically have. By the way, Mr. Peters needs to thank God that Glenn Beck is not Muslim and the cartoon was not entitled “If Mohammad returned as Glenn Beck”.

Climate Gate

I have posted this Blog under Religion and Philosophy because the advocates of “Climate Change” (formerly known as “Global Warming”) remind me of the Evolutionists. Their “science” is their religion and woe to the non-believers. They are so sure in their convictions that they can distort the facts to fit their views without repercussions. Al Gore, High Priest of the Climate Change Society, should be required to wear a headdress containing the plumage of an endangered species bird and register this religious group with the Federal Government. Then no one can make fun of his chant “The debate is over” or they could be called just atheistic buffoons. For any of you who do not agree that Evolutionists and Climate Changers should be categorized together remember these facts: Climate Change believers insist that the Polar Bear is in danger of becoming extinct even though statistics indicate their population has increased five-fold. Add to this the Evolutionists insist all life began when nothing exploded (yeah, the Big Bang Theory). Any idiot who can believe that nothing, I repeat NOTHING can explode could also argue that a population increase of 500% was indicative of an “Endangered Species”. I rest my case.

Turkey and Genocide

Turkey has threatened to sever ties with the US if the 1915 (- 1923) Genocide is recognized by the US. This has been a sore point for Turkey ever since the events occurred in 1915. In fact they even blocked the filming of Hans Werfel's book "The 40 days of Musa Dagh" (a novel published in 1933 using the 1915 Genocide as its background) for about 40 years because of the bad light it cast upon Turkey. In 1915, The American Ambassador to Turkey, Henry Morgenthau Sr., described the massacres as a "campaign of race extermination". Germany, Turkey's ally, was just as critical of the Genocide according to German engineers, workers and embassy staff. German Armin Wegner was a military medic who documented the atrocities via photographs . Truth of the matter is that the 1915 "Re-location" (which was Turkey's euphemism for the 1915 Atrocity just as Hitler later called his mass murder of Jews "The Final Solution"...He learned well from Turkey) was not the only mass killing of Christians but it was Turkey's most successful. There were also the Hamidian Massacres (in 1894-1896) and the Adana Massacre (in 1909).

I have to admit to having more than a just little interest on this subject because my mother Areknas (Helen in English) Garber (nee Vartanian) is Armenian. In fact my Grandmother (Aroxy Shanazarian) fled Armenia because of the continuing persecution at age 13 in 1922 on the condition she marry Abraham Vartanian . She survived because she was visiting an aunt who lived on the coast away from the "Re-Location". When you drive Christians, mostly women and children, through deserts and over mountains of one Islamic country to another Islamic country (Syria), you are lucky to have anyone left to re-locate (which was the plan all along). Most died of exposure, starvation and diseases, like Typhus, but many were sadistically raped and murdered by Muslims (Turks, Kurds and Syrians) along the way.

The Turks claimed the 1915 "Re-location" was due to an Armenian revolt in support of Russia. Although some Armenians did side with Russia (due to previous atrocities and the fact that Armenia was physically located inside both countries), truth is Enver Pasha needed a scapegoat. The Turks had been defeated by the Russians at Sarikamish in the Caucuses in an attempt to recover land previously lost to Russia. So the Armenians were removed, along with Coptic Greeks and Assyrians, because they were, for the most part, Christian.

I see no difference between this Christian massacre and Hitler's "Final Solution" other than the higher numbers of the Holocaust. Both were directed at people due to their Religion (Judaism is a not a race) and both need to be remembered. I feel a lot of empathy with Jews and really don't understand some Jewish resistance at declaring the 1915 acts as Genocide. After all, if the Armenian Genocide had not been swept under the rug by Turkey, Hitler may have thought twice about performing his Final Solution. To Barrack Hussein Obama I say, go ahead and don't support the Congressional declaration, but remember this about our Great Ally Turkey. Their Government would not allow American troops to "invade" Iraq after indicating they would. Oh yeah, and also remember that Turkey wants the US to ensure that the NOW pesky Kurds don't want to declare freedom and lands of their own out of Northern Iraq. Turkey fears that their Kurds might want to join free Kurds across the border. I wonder why they feel that way, don't you Barack?

March 24th is Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day and I hope that we Armenians can finally remember a Genocide not merely a re-location. Oh, I forgot to mention that the Law professor who coined the term "Genocide", Raphael Lambkin, claimed to have had the Armenians in mind at the time.

Health Care Summit Fiasco

What was the real reason behind the Progressive's televised Health Care Summit? If you even watched just the first hour (all I could stomach) you realized it was not a "Summit". Was it a photo-op? Maybe, but I think that it was all part of the "Smoke & Mirrors" distraction of Obama the Magician's show. Why, well first there was and still is no acknowledgement from the Progressives that the GOP was left out of the whole Health Care Legislation crafting within both the House and Senate. All I hear is how the GOP only wants to include their ideas and scrap all of Obama's because they insist on stating anew, as the majority of Americans wish. Just more propaganda from the left.

Let's state the facts...Until Brown won AND was sworn in as the 41st GOP member in the Senate, the GOP might as well have not existed as far as the Obama Administration was concerned (Except of course as a well-worn whipping boy). The GOP could not have successfully filibustered any Legislation because they did not have the required votes without a Democratic defector. The House and the Senate Democrats could not even agree on the same items and if Obama just wanted the Senate bill to go through because he truly believed it was needed by the American people he would have used the Reconciliation process at that point and not threaten to use it now. But that would prove to the People that the Democrats themselves were spilt between the Progressive party members and others.

So, we had this Dog and Pony show where the GOP did not even get as much time to speak as the President alone and where there were lies spewed by Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, The President and others about only the GOP holding up the progress on this issue. Don't fall for the lies any more. Remember, the Progressive motto is "You are too dumb to know what is good for you and that the ends justifies the means". If this law is passed I for one will not obey it because it is unconstitutional in the first place and against the wishes of the American people in the second.

When is someone going to stand up

I am waiting for just one politician to find their spine by standing up and asking, "Why do we need a huge, pork & earmarked bill for health care reform?" Wouldn't reform be easier and quicker to pass if Health Care reform legislation consisted of multiple, small bills devoid of earmarks (why would any be needed in National Health Care reform?). For that matter, why would you need a bill to remove waste and fraud from Medicaid/Medicare? Just do it.

I personally believe that three ideas would go a long way to reform health care and then this administration can put the damn thing to bed and start working on the issues that really require their attention...our Economy, along with Iran and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

First, we need to allow Interstate Health Insurance and remove the Intrastate monopoly. This would stimulate competition and help lower every one's costs. Since Interstate commerce is one item the Federal Government is supposed to regulate this item is a No-Brainer. It may also help relax some requirements (preexisting conditions and coverage not wanted or needed) that are harmful. This would require no earmarks because it should require no money allocations. Everything is already in place. An added benefit is that we can easily see how Congress votes on this issue and it would not be influenced by other issues.

Second, we need to also allow Insurance portability. By that I mean allow the insurance a person signs up for at work stays with them even if they do not get another job. again, since the first item is in place, insurance companies would want more business and offer better deals to individuals whether they are self-employed, working for a large or small business or not working at all. Portability should also be almost cost free and should be overseen by the first reform, Interstate Insurance availability.

Thirdly, we need to establish tort reforms. This is the murkiest suggestion as far as being Constitutional is involved, but don't let the Progressive and other Big Government proponents fool you about this would not save on medical costs. The huge insurance premiums that doctor's have to pay need to be recouped and are passed along to their patients. This extreme cost has driven some doctor's out of medicine and has caused many perspective doctor's to ignore medical school altogether. Especially when you look at the lower pay that Medicaid and Medicare doctor's are paid. Of course is hikes up doctor's bills because many bills are inflated due to the known reduction that Medicare and Medicaid will pay. I am not talking about caps on actual damages but on, what I believe are called, Punitive damages or payment for pain and suffering. Along with the other reforms, this change should help cut out some Bill Padding (which will help reduce waste in the Medicare/Medicaid systems).


Of course, these changes might require a beefing up of the Interstate Commerce Commission employees but that cost is much better then the money being bandied about now for Health Care Reform. Like Glenn Beck asks "Where has common sense gone?"

My Experience with Unions

My father was a Union Painting contractor for whom I worked until I married and moved away from home. I worked for over 16 years at General Tire & Rubber Company, which ran a Union Factory in "The Rubber Capital of the World" Akron , Ohio. I received "How to deal with Unions"course as part of management training for a Semi-conductor manufacturer in Silicon Valley. This basically taught that you could report "Suspicious" Union Activity but not impede any Organizing Attempts. I only actually belonged to a Union (The OCSEA AFSCME Local 0011) when I worked for the State of Ohio later in 2003.

I'd like to address my latest experience first. I normally would not even consider the need for a Union as a Computer Programmer, but I was told that the political aspects of working for the State Government made it imperative to one's continued employment to Unionize the working force. Of course, membership was not mandatory but I joined anyway because they were going to deduct Union Dues from my pay whether or not I joined. They said the "Only" difference between a Union & Non-union member of CIS was voting privileges and if I had to pay I wanted to be able to vote. This, above all, proved to me how insidious Unions have become. They are not "Bad" because of their members but because of their power Hungry Leadership, even when their existence is justified.

During my training class in California about Unions, I learned that although a company cannot fire you for participating in a Union Strike, they can permanently "Replace" you. You are not fired but you are out of a job and will be even after the strike ends as long as your replacement does not terminate. Of course, if termination does occur, then you must be rehired but only IF that position is to be re-filled. Also, although Unions do provide strike funds (from your dues) they also must pay all Non-Production Union officials their salaries so the funds do run out very quickly if a strike lasts very long. In that case you must still respect the Picket Line or be fined a great sum of money (I forgot how much but it was steep).

While working for General Tire I discovered how inflexible Unions could be and actually how damaging to a company as well. An example is the way the Factory Workers were paid...In cash envelopes (that were a real pain in the rear to print I might add). These were stuffed by staff in the Treasurer's office and then delivered on payday. Of course the overhead associated with this payment was outrageous, so General Tire continually asked the Unions to accept checks, like Salaried workers, instead. When I started working in 1968 a box of checks was in the Computer Center Forms room. When I left in 1984, the same box was still there even though the Company offered them 10 cents per hour more in wages and would have an Armoured Brinks Truck on site to cash checks so that the workers would not even have to stand in line at the company cashier's window for their money. The older union workers rejected all offers...they didn't like change. Of course now there is no General Tire factory in Akron anymore. In fact ALL the big four Tire factories in Akron have long ago closed and the "Rubber Capital of the World" no longer produces tires..with the possible exception of a few Goodyear experimental tires.

I will not discuss the work I did for my Dad because I don't have the time but both he and my Grandfather (his Dad) belonged to Unions for years. Since he was basically "The Company", being a small business partnership, he knew all of the payment terms. In 1962 he paid Unions Workers $5.25 an hour...Unless they were using a paint roller...then it was $5.35...or if they used a spray gun, then it was $5.50...or if they were doing any specialized work, like Wall-Paper Hanging or Gold-Leaf work...which cost even more. He had to be a math expert just to be in business and could only make money on a job if he worked...Especially at the more expensive work. However, he usually did the dirty work, with my help, like painting the outside of homes in Miami, Florida during the Summer or painting the ceiling over the ovens in Holsum's bakery and the acetate basement floor in the Kodak building, both also in Miami during the Summer, but I digress.

Therefore, due to the issues I encountered in my working career with Unions and due to the restrictions placed upon employers concerning Union Organizing, I appose today's Unions (as well as their Slush fund for Mobster activities) and really object to the "Card Check" euphemism for discarding our American values and our right to a secret ballot. This president has been following the Union's agenda and the SEIU's goal of Global Unionization and control. Remember their president's, Andy Stern, quote: "...we will use the power of persuasion and if that doesn't work, the persuasion of power..." Sounds like a typical strong armed goon tactic doesn't it?

A Discussion of Health Care

Most of the people talking about Health Care have had nothing but company provided Health Insurance. I however, have experienced the entire spectrum and now exist on Medicare/Medicaid. Prior to 1968 I was, for the most part, covered by my Parent’s Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance. Between 1968 and 1984, I worked for General Tire in Akron, Ohio, and had wonderful health insurance. In 1968 once I met personal medical expenditures ($100 @ individual or $300 @ family) I was reimbursed 100% for any further costs. When I left in 1984 to work in California, I don’t remember if the limits had changed, but the reimbursement was changed to 80%. I had just recovered from a major shoulder operation; I was 37 years old and in great physical shape.

While I was in California, from 1984 until 2000, I worked for three different companies and had a couple of choices but the best for the money was always the HMO, Kaiser Permanente. I found out that you had to be careful about which Doctors treat you. I found some really good ones but I also seemed to be lucky enough to usually get the ones that wanted the large bonuses available to those doctors who could save the company money. When I left California I had gained 100 pounds and therefore developed Sleep Apnea (diagnosed when I was almost dead according to the ENT that initiated my testing); I had been treated for depression during this time when the depression was caused by lack of sleep; I had type II diabetes, which had not been diagnosed, I had a skin infection that they treated as a rash (I still have this but not as bad due to the diabetes). I also had a ruptured disc in my back that had been misdiagnosed as a sprain for six months and a punctured eardrum from having a tube put in my ear that has never healed. I had been diagnosed has having bronchitis two times when I actually had pneumonia and had been treated for an ulcer when I had GIRD (never had X-rays).

When I came back to Ohio in 2000, I was sick (Pneumonia again) but had no insurance at all. I went to the Free Clinic in Akron and was checked for Diabetes; for Pneumonia; and Gird. In Columbus, Ohio I finally got insurance though the State of Ohio and it was good, but I became disabled because of all the health problems along with a knee that had been operated upon twice that got diagnosed (when I had the State Insurance) as having Degenerative Joint Disease and recommended for knee replacement. That was in 2006 just before my being certified as unable to work by State of Ohio Doctors and released (I had until 2009 to get better and return to the same post I had held, but I got worse instead).

I was not qualified for Medicare at that time, so I was placed on Medicaid. I could not afford the Spenddown each month to receive Medicaid Benefits because it was set at everything I made over $420 @ month (which was wrong I found out later). Since my rent alone was $500 @ month, I applied and got accepted to a waiver part of Medicaid that offered more benefits for a lot less and eventually I qualified for Medicare and now that is my primary insurance with Medicaid as my secondary.

Since I am married and my wife is not on Medicare or Medicaid, I had to provide for her. We found Doctor’s, in both Columbus & Akron, Ohio) that charge based on the ability to pay and we pay $20.00 per visit for her. I carry a $127.00 per month major medical policy for Emergency Hospitalization and we purchase her medications at $4.00 a month each for five prescriptions.

I gave all of this background to show you I have been under all types (including none) Health care. I found out about some facts that many people do not know because it is not information freely given. One fact is that since the Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement is something like 67% of the billing, most hospitals and doctors pad their bills (for all patients) and if you tender them 75% of your bill (when you have no insurance) in one payment they will consider the bill paid in full. That’s because everyone’s bill is padded because the Hospitals, Doctors and Technicians do not know what your insurance (if you have it) will actually pay and they actually get more when you pay them 75% of the bill in one payment. Therefore, when Politicians suggest cutting reimbursements, yes, the will save that money but the providers will either pass the difference on to the patient or stop taking Medicare/Medicaid patients. This affects the President’s pledge that you can keep your same doctor because no one knows if your doctor will take the reduced reimbursements (for either Medicare or Medicaid). If the cost is passed on, people will either have to pay higher co-payments or States will discontinue what they cannot afford. So either the patient pays more out of pocket (another promise that Barack Obama cannot make) or the patient has to opt for the Government plan which is the Left Wing radicals’ hidden agenda to move to a single payer plan.