So "We Can See What Is In It" Huh?
From The "You Gotta Be Kidding Me" Department
This has been "flickering" about for a few days so I'm just now getting to it. This has to do with "retirement perks." Ah retirement you say! Something we all work toward our whole life - warm sand between our toes, margarita's betwixt our fingers and warm sunshine caressing our faces. After slaving away in the salt mines for decades, what could be better?
It depends on who you are it appears and sometimes appearances are eveything. Being a political beat reporter can demanding, especially covering the bunch of nitwits we keep sending back to Congress to warm those seats.
Ever wonder why the health care reform bill was crafted in secrecy? Ever wonder why we didn't have 5 days to read it on the internet before Obama signed it? That was a campaign promise he made Ever wonder why "they had to pass the bill so we can see what is it?" If you do, then you are utterly and completely politically naive. But one thing is bankable. Once it was signed it would be bisected, dissected and regurgitated. But it would be too late, in their minds anyway, because it would be "the law of the land." In their pea brains they were doing the American tax payer a good deed by passing this monstrosity. You couldn't read something that voluminous in five days if you wanted to. What a lovely opportunity to slide things in under the radar.
Retirement is the subject and "The Perks For Friends" is the category. We all dream of early retirement, not many in reality can afford to do so. Many people I talk to wonder, under the current economic circumstances, if they're ever going to be able to retire. Nest eggs have been wiped out by Wall Street shenanigans, Social Security is on crutches and companies are going belly up, or moving overseas, leaving the workers in a lurch - that sort of thing. The prospects are looking grim for a lot of people who are thinking that just maybe they will have to die in the salt mines of life. To retire early is but a dream to the masses. You have to have your ducks in order to do that.
Well now, lets just add a duck to those fortunate ones via the Obamacare Bill. Lets bail those suckers out too while we're bailing. Another "Whatchu talking about FP" came to mind, did it? The House Energy and Commerce Committee has uncovered another golden nugget. It seems our lawmakers back then (Read - Federal Government) created this nifty little slush fund hidden inside Obamacare to help subsidize health care for early retirees. The "fund" contains $5 billion imaginary dollars, which the fed doesn't have, of which 2 billion actual dollars has already been disbursed at this early date.
That raised a question in my mind. If one is so fortunate as to be able to retire early and can afford to do so, why in the world should the American tax payer be required to help put another duck in their shooting gallery? The answer to that question lies in "who" is getting to put their hands in our cookie jar.
The idea, and who knows who had this great brain storm since no one is raising their paw in Foggy Bottom, is to "assist" unions, states and various corporations who, in their infinite wisdom, had decided to commit to providing health care to early retirees. That would be those folks between the ages of 55 and 64 who don't enter Medicare eligibility until the ripe old age of 65. Just an aside, if you don't think they can make that magic number slide higher then think again.
The Department of Health And Human Services spins it this way, "People in the early retiree age group...often face difficulties obtaining insurance in the individual market because of age or chronic conditions that make coverage unaffordable or inaccessible." I ask anyone with even an iota of common sense to think that spin through.
NOTE: Did you know that "unaffordable" shows up as misspelled and has no alternative? Chuckles to self...
What makes anyone think that we, the American tax payer, can afford to pay for those pampered individuals so that they can retire early? Oh, I forgot who is getting the benefits.
The short list of recipients includes:
1) UAW (Government Motors guys) has of date received $206 million. Wonder why your car costs so much? Don't!
2) AT&T has received $140 million clams so far.
3) Besides the big two above in descending order those with their hands out include: Verizon, General Electric, and General Motors.
4) The states of Ohio and Texas public union retirement systems have received millions upon millions of our hard earned tax dollars.
NOTE: I recently wrote about GE paying no taxes in 2010 and wasn't General Motors just recently bailed out at our expense? Aren't union members making a spectacle of themselves demanding their "rights" as they act like heathens?
Well, isn't this just so special. We, the American tax payers, get to subsidize unions, large corporations and public employees performing a public service. I reckon many of us picked the wrong employer to work for. Pity the small business owner who has no voice on Capitol Hill to get some gravy for their meat and potatoes too.
So back to the early retirees themselves. What in the world is wrong with your "stinkin' thinkin'" as my friend, Zig Zigler, is fond of saying? If you can't, in reality, afford to retire early then - DON'T. I'll be fit and tied if you think we have the responsibility to subsidize your health care because you can't afford it. Stay on the job and work like the rest of us have to.
And now ladies and gentlemen, let us bow our heads in prayer. We pray especially this day for the idiots who make such misguided decisions...
And Now We're Finding Out!
Comments
Froggie love, you're still the best! Great article and right on the money, as usual!
This whole situation is beyond insane. If I had to come up with an example of "Out of Control", I would probably just say the "US Government".
Great Hub my friend.
I heard about this a little while ago. It's no wonder Pelosi wanted this thing passed before anyone got a chance to read it. What bothers me more than the $5 billion early retirement fund is the $105 billion annual slush fund they hid in the bill. In substance, the HC Act secretly stole the House's funding perogative. I don't know if this was illegal, but it sure seems to go against the spirit of how things are supposed to work.
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Stu - As this thing is being dissected, I have to believe that more and more details about just how corrupt the last Congress was will rear its ugly head.
My understanding is that the thing is full of "appropriations" of various kinds. Interesting reading will surely continue.
They knew it was flawed, hopefully fatally, when they rushed to pass it. Therefore they didn't give anyone time to read it before bringing it to the floor. It was shoved down our throats and that, my friend, I have a problem with.
The Frog
Stu, the really sad thing is these facts will never be released to, or understood by most citizens. The entitlement crowd views this as "Free Medical" and that is all they care about. The MSM is never going to put out much about the true costs or future impact on our country.
That public statement by Pelosi that we had to pass the bill so we could find out what was in it, should have been grounds for a psychiatric evaluation.
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Poolman - The scary thing about Pelosi is that "voters" keep sending her back to sow further destruction.
Birds of a feather flock together..........
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Poolman - I know but sheesh. She could be the poster child of why this nation needs term limits.
Yeah, specially if we could make it retroactive.
It's called paying back those that put him in office. When I heard about this I couldn't eat my breakfast! Up and awesome.
Up and awesome! I feel like retirement may just be a figment of my imagination...
As usual Frog you have presented nothing but truth.
Frog, you'll have to go Katrina on their butts and loot TVs in waist deep water to sell for retirement money....LOL ,dust
Get the rope!
Up and useful!
jim
The thing that infuriates me most is the smug politicians and news anchors who tell us that Obamacare is permanent and we'll just have to bend over and accept it!
Never!
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BPOP - Sorry to ruin your breakfast because they are always so yummy! Hope you saved me a seat.
rkhyclak - Your generation is standing in the door. Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to help straighten all this out!
Dusty - The shame of it is that what you just wrote, many fail to see.
jim - November 2012 is just around the corner and we need to run some more varmints out. Get out the rat traps too.
Will - I'm with you. I've never bent over and said "AH" easily myself and this time it definitely isn't one of them.
Old Poolman - You see, my friend, we've lived long enough to know that there is no free lunch. Someone is paying the bill.
Ha! I read this before but couldn't ger the video:( I just did! I felt really stupid, until now. Lol! And perfectly said so I could understand this, there isn't a gravy for the SBO!
I wish I could keep the contributions for SS and invest the money instead. I think I could do better.
I'm slowly awakening Frog, and now I completely understand! We pass bills and laws and THEN toss coins and see if they work!
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RHW - Thanks. The Frog Princess tells me that I write so ordinary people can grasp the concept. Most people do, some just want to deny the truth. Our government is out of control. Heads they win, tails we lose.
What I wonder about the most is the blandness in which they tell their lies and are not even embarressed when caught at it.
Well Frog Princess is smart! But since most people operate at an eight grade level with regard to comprehension you have to appeal to the masses. I try to write my hubs on a more basic level or else some people who aren't familiar with sleep terms like 'nystagmus' or 'circadian rhythm' would be lost. I like to write them so anyone from 8th grade up can understand.
I really like that you make it easier because I am serious, I am sorry to say I didn't pay much attention to politics until I started earning more. Then I started noticing that even though I'm the one who worked for it, I'm obligated to pay for those who don't. I hope I don't get attacked for saying that:). I'll admit being uninformed but I'm listening and trying to follow Frog!
Oh yeah, we're starting to see what is in it. That it was not all that it was promised to be.
It was said that no one was supposed to lose their coverage under the new healthcare. Nice! Then McDonald's said it was going to have to drop health insurance altogether because of the huge financial burden to them. (YIKES!!!) Almost immediately after that news came out, McDonald's was granted a waiver! Many other companies have since then been granted the waiver, including some who supported (the irony of it) the passing of the bill.
Frog,
"They knew it was flawed, hopefully fatally, when they rushed to pass it. Therefore they didn't give anyone time to read it before bringing it to the floor. It was shoved down our throats and that, my friend, I have a problem with."
You are certainly right. Not only was the law over 2,000 pages long, but much of it referenced other law, like "change 'and ' to 'or' in law xxx." A small handlful of Congrressmen actually went through it before the five period, with volumes of federal code on their desk so they could see what it all really meant. But most just voted without reading it, because there was not enough time. I'm sure you're right that more ugly news will come out as we see provisions kick in at their trigger dates.
Stu
Will,
"The thing that infuriates me most is the smug politicians and news anchors who tell us that Obamacare is permanent and we'll just have to bend over and accept it!"
Screw the politicians and news anchors. Ultimately, this thing is going to have to go to the SCOTUS, because lower federal court decisions are mixed (some say the HC Act is legal, and some say it is not).
The big issue is time. The SCOTUS is split evenly between conservatives and liberals, with one centrist swing vote. If a conservative retires or dies before Oblabber is gone, I think you can picture what is going to happen.
Stu
Dahoglund,
"What I wonder about the most is the blandness in which they tell their lies and are not even embarressed when caught at it."
Trust me, most of these people are embarrassed, even though they do it anyway. A small portion, like Nanny P are sociopathic; they believe their own lies are OK, as long as they're the ones telling them. But most of these bums are like Dirty Harry; they know it's wrong, but they suppress their conscience and just don't care (criminals).
Stu
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Stu - That's what we have on The Hill in too many cases. Career criminals who have chosen politics as their line of endeavor. Another case for term limits.
I wish I could show this whole hub - comments included to some folks who were very angry with me for not voting for Obama. I wonder if they think I am the stupid one now?
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RHW - Many who did regretted falling for the snow job. Those hard core Obamazoids will never admit they fell for it.
I had a feeling it was just that - I used to have in-laws now I am the out law:)! They will never admit it.
It is interesting to me that many libs still firmly believe that all is well, and this country is on the right path. I recall a Hannity man in the street thing asking people passing by what they thought about Stu Pid as a presidential candidate. The majority said they thought he would make a great president. With voters like this walking among us, what else could we expect. First is the low voter turn out, and many of those who do vote not knowing anything about whom they vote for. Looks to me like Stu Pid many have won the last Presidential election.
Everyone of the a--holes who voted for that bill, the s.o.b. who signed it, and every sorry dip---- who wanted it passed should be strung up . . . . and shot for good measure.
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Carpe - What is your caliber preference?
Poolman - As witnessed by my "Unkilled" Hamburger Hub, they do indeed walk among us.
I truly love that Unkilled Hamburger. In fact that is all we ever buy now. I'm sure glad they invented that so no more animals have to be killed so we can eat.
Pelosi, Obama, Reid took the P.T. Barnum approach to HCR; "There's a sucker born every minute." In this case, there were millions of suckers born the minute Obama was elected as POTUS. In 2012, the "adults in the room" have a chance to kick the children (Democrats) back to kindergarten. I'm sick of their socialist BS. If we keep these people in office, we have nobody to blame but ourselves. I'm still peeved about Reid being reelected. Nevada deserves everything that he inflicts on them...well, except for the good people who voted against that moron. Great hub, I enjoyed it.
RH,
"I had a feeling it was just that - I used to have in-laws now I am the out law:)! They will never admit it." - Isn't it great how Obama is healing the divides? I'm "hoping" for some real "change" in 2012. I want to "fundamentally transform" the Oval Office. :)
Stu
FP, 1" hemp for the rope. 7.52 x 54 for the finale. Cheap, easy to use, effective.
Writer David,
I'm not convinced Reid really won. Sharron Angle was ahead by 5 points in the polls 36 hours before the election, and lost by 5 points. A ten point swing that fast is a little mind stretching. Did you hear about the SEIU serviced voting machines that were picking Reid by default? Over a dozen people filed sworn affadavits about the machines picking Reid even after Angle was selected. I'm not aware of any state or federal investigation of the matter. In one case one of the suspect machines just "disappeared" so it could never be examined.
Stu
Yes. I am so interested in what the in laws think now. You know I am too polite to ask! I actually got yelled at over this topic. I did not bend though. I really don't always like being the one who is right, but I do think I should be extended the courtesy of believing what I want.
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Stu - So my political ad Hub was sucking you in huh? It was intended to. I have no doubt that there was voter fraud this last election in Nevada. It was as plain as the nose of people's faces.
RHW - You don't worry your brain too much about the lack of courtesy. Keep on believing and becoming active in the political process as we near 2012.
Carpe,
Can I tie the ole 13 twister? Frog can build the gallows, and you can empty a 14 shot 50 cal mag clip into Hopey-Changey for good measure. Then we'll all go down to the local bar and have a beer.
Stu
That is exactly why you animals (LOL)caught my attention. I want you to know, I do read all of the comments too:) It is very educational and I feel validated. Thank you!
Stu, sounds like a conspiracy to me. Quick. Somebody notify Janet Incompetano. Stu's got a 13 twister. Carpe's got big bean shooter. All hell's gonna break loose. Call the men in black and get these guys carted off somewhere.
Corporate propaganda injected into the lives of the everyday citizen, the wealthy will benefit as they continue to kick the lower classes while they are down. Cutting spending and tax hikes could have prevented a need for the obamacare as well as the agencies that are supposed to look into and find 'fraud' actually exposed it to the public rather than creaating another bill to disguise the truth of all the crap that goes on behind closed doors in our country.
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Jeremey - What does your comment have to do with this article?
Froggie - It is no wonder there are so many comments here. It is not because everyone is like me - all wanting a great clock like the one in your first photo.
Gus :-)))
This is probably off subject, but it appears that corporation, or corps, as some of the libs call them, are the new greatest enemy. I can't say I am real pleased that GE has reportedly not paid income tax for several years, but they were also heavy contributors to Obama's campaign.
I wonder how these corp haters would feel if we outlawed corporations, made them close their doors, and unemployment soared to the 75% level? I suspect a few would still think this was a good move.
RH - We may be animals, but we're unkilled (at least for the moment). Stu
Carpe, nothing against FP, but how come he gets a skate on the gallows? Is this one of those special exemptions hidden deep in the HC Act?
Stu - I know what you mean. I hope you stay unkilled too! I don't think it would mean good things for me either. I keep watching and reading though. You will be glad to know that I brought up the O word with my husband and he is now admitting that he is not liking what is going on. I was very glad to hear that one!
I'm Back Froggy, and I so missed your Sensible, dry wit...however we need GE and all the Corp. to stay in this country because they do supply the JOBS. I'm answering Poolman as well...I'm so on a Roll. The New Tax Laws are bound to drive these companies overseas. Thanks once again Frog Prince for a Thought provoking Hub.
The new tax laws are about to drive me overseas too.
RealHousewife - good work; we'll make a TPM patriot out of him yet!
There's a simple answer for how "they" come up with their stinkin' thinkin'. Which is, they always Zag when they should Zig.
Zigler, that is.
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b, malin - Welcome home. Check out my penmanship while you were doing what you had to do. Sometimes I can even be comical I'm hearing. LOL
Ghost - I hadn't thought about the zagging angle but I will now.
Ha! We need to! I mean seriously now - there's something going on! And I can assure you it wasn't going on 3 years ago:)!
RH - When you finish "reeducating" him, let me know, and I'll provide a list of some great groups he can join. :)
Ha! He is always on my side - it's the rest of the crew that worries me:)! My parents also share my views - but that figures doesn't it?
RH - You're lucky, you have good political genes. I'm working on my Dad. He's a stubborn centrist. Maybe one day they'll discover a politics genome and how to alter it. :)
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RHW - The apple never falls far from the tree. That, my friend, is usually a truism.
Ha! My dad died many years ago, so I'm really referring to my step father and mother. My dad didn't want me to worry my pretty head about such things, you know? He meant well.
I do agree though, the apple doesn't fall far. That's how it seems to me!
Everytime someone in Washington connected to ObamaCare attempts to rationalize the logic associated with it, some little tidbit like this surfaces yet again demonstrating the utter stupidity of the the entire process. This bill was rammed through in secrecy in the dead of the night because it was a damn criminal act of theft on the American public. Anyone whose name is associated with it should be serving time in a federal institution compliments of the American taxpayer as a thank you for their deed. Personally, I think Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid would both look good in prison garb. Of course they would be there long before Nancy would have a sweatshop running in the woodworking shop packing tuna cans and Harry would be on his way to control the cigarette currency market economy of the prison. It does not take true thieves long to adjust to their surroundings. I would love to go to Washington and host a public program on his I could actually thank our detached president, his staff, and all of the key leaders in Washington for such a fine act of flim flam perpetrated upon the American public. If the media was doing its job, they might find some of this stuff themselves and question it. Of course, far too many of them would be exposing the people they voted into office thus making their own selves appear rather stupid and foolish. If our Founding Fathers were mistaken about anything, it was the roll that a free press would play in keeping America sane. WB
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Wayne - Here Here! Slammer time might not be good enough for these "legal" criminals sitting up there.
Wayne, great post. The Founders never predicted the FCC would come about: "tow the line, or lose your broadcast license." This greatly impacts print news as well, as dailies and news magazines are often owned by the same companies that own and operate TV and radio stations. The FCC has become a quasi-censhorship tool for the various administrations, and probably should be vacated. It has no Tenth Amendment enumerated power to even exist in the first place.
Stu
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