On my Soapbox, Again

With all the changes in government lately, it's been the center of topic around our household. While discussing the current healthcare initiatives after reading sections of the bill over the weekend, it occurred to me that have a viewpoint worth sharing. Of course, I could hearken back to all the political theory classes I've taken and debate the politics of the bill with you. But, that seems futile. Instead, I will just share my personal experiences with government healthcare. There were many experiences over the years, but I'll just share some of the high, or rather, low points that I think will provide "teachable" moments, as the President appreciates those.

As a dependent of an active duty service member, I received government healthcare for 8 years. My memories of that program are not similar to the type of care I've heard tale of from politicians recently. But, I'm sure they've never been the recipient of mass government healthcare.

1. They way it works with the military is that you are assigned a provider. Depending on what is available in your area, it could be a private practice, a military clinic, or a military treatment hospital that houses clinics. The first provider I was assigned was a Physicians Assistant at a military clinic. I was to see her for any appointment I needed. For my annual OB check-up, I didn't have the option of making an appointment with an OB, I had to see the PA. As was standard in my annual check-ups, this PA found that I had lumps in my breasts. I had had several mammograms in the previous years and assured her that cysts ran in my family and this diagnosis had been confirmed by multiple doctors. She referred me to a surgeon at the military hospital who determined that a biopsy was necessary. I was told that this was a teaching hospital and they didn't pass up on teaching opportunities and med students were my caregivers instead of the surgeon. I was not allowed to get a second opinion. I had the option of going through with the biopsy or not doing anything further with the issue. Like I expected, my bilateral biopsies revealed common cysts, and the surgeon laughed when I questioned why the scars were twice as long as he had originally described. In case you're wondering, government healthcare certainly doesn't pay for cosmetic surgery but he did tell me that I could consult with a private cosmetic surgeon and pay for it myself.

2. When Abigail was born, all of the baby books I read described how to interview pediatricians and what to look for and how to select the one you wanted. I quickly learned that it didn't work that way in government healthcare. Abigail was assigned a pediatrician clinic. When I called to make an appointment, I called the central line for that military clinic and whomever had availability within the pediatric department was who we got an appointment with. I'll never forget our first checkup. It was the first time I had gotten out with a new baby by myself, so just getting to the appointment was complicated and wearisome. (If you've never been a new mom, you won't be able to relate to that part.) The doctor we saw was Indian, and I could understand very little of what she said. The nurse had me strip Ab down to her doctor and she was laid on a cold, metal exam table. Of course, I scooped her up and covered her up while we waited for the doctor, but had to put her back down on the table when the doctor came in. She was crying and crying and shivering, and the doctor told me she was hungry. I explained that she had just eaten and the doctor said that she was still crying, so she must be hungry. When I offered the idea that my baby was likely freezing and uncomfortable without clothes and on this cold, metal table, the doctor began asking about how often I fed Abigail. After I described the feeding schedule we had, she strongly criticized me for scheduling my baby. Ugh... It was a terrible appointment. I was so glad that the "lottery" of doctor assignments never happened to plug us in with that doctor again.

2. When Abigail was 13 months old, we had just moved to a new area and were assigned to a former military hospital that now housed multiple clinics, nevermind that it was a 45-minute drive from our home. It was still the same gig that held multiple pediatricians and we got whomever was available for an appointment. At our first appointment there, Abigail was diagnosed with an ear infection and prescribed an antibiotic. This was the first ear infection I had dealt with as mother, and I now know that every ear infection must be followed up by the doc within two weeks. However, I did not know that at that time and the doctor did not want to see her again. The symptoms quickly began to go away and Abigail seemed fine over the next couple of weeks. Unfortunately, on a Saturday morning she did not wake up and I finally went to get her out of her crib only to find her listless, burning with fever, eyes glazed over and unresponsive. With our insurance, we could not go to the ER unless we called and received permission first. When I called, I was told to call the pediatrician on call. I called that number and left a message and waited for the doctor to call. When the doctor called, she gave us permission to go to the weekend primary care clinic on the naval base, 30-45 minutes from our home. After waiting at the clinic, Abigail was examined and when blood results came back, we were told to take her to the ER because her white cell count was alarmingly high and they suspected meningitis. After all of this hoopla, we went to the only ER in the area that our insurance allowed us to go to, not the ER in the town we lived in, and then had to wait and start the process all over again. After an exam, duplicate bloodwork and much medication, it was determined that the ear infection that was never followed up on had traveled deeper into my child's ear and become a very serious infection that had made her so sick. After a shot and some IV meds and fluids, we were able to take a recovering baby home that night after a long day of jumping through government healthcare hoops. Next time your child is alarmingly sick and you immediately know you need to take him/her to a hospital, think about all the phone calls, asking permission and and going to other locations first before you are allowed to go to the hospital. It's not a good thought.

3. When I found out I was pregnant with Cooper, I called my military treatment facility I was assigned to and asked to make an appointment with an OB. I was told that I had to go to the lab and take a pregnancy test before I could make an appointment. Once they had proof that I was pregnant, I was required to take a pregnancy class before I was allowed to make an appointment with an OB. It didn't matter than I was already a mother, I still had to take off work and sit through a half-day class on how to be pregnant and how the OB clinic would handle me. I found out that there was only one hospital I had the option of delivering at, and it was a 45-minute drive from my house. It didn't matter that there was a public hospital (in the same network as the approved hospital) in the town I lived in.

Once I finally got to an appointment, I found that the OB clinic worked just like the pediatric clinic and I would never see a consistent doctor, but just whomever was available. Since I had a complicated pregnancy with pre-term labor and an early delivery with my first baby, I was aware that I was likely to have the same complications the second time. As soon as I began having contractions, barely out of my first trimester, I made an appointment and was aghast when the doctor would not examine me at the appointment. He laughed it away and said it was impossible for me to have contractions that early and I was mistaken. I described the complications in my previous pregnancy, and he did not change his mind and sent me on my way.

At that point, I was fed up with our government healthcare and decided we had to make a change. Before I switched to private insurance through my employer, I started researching our government plan online. I was surprised to find that there were multiple levels of the program and it appeared that I could pay out of pocket and be able to have a PPO plan and see private physicians who I selected. I called the base's insurance office and was told that I wouldn't be able to afford the option and it wasn't worth it. After multiple calls and an office visit and persistent insistent, I finally broke through and switched to the PPO level. I was then able to see an OB who was highly recommended, located more geographically convenient to me, and approved to deliver at the hospital I wanted to deliver my baby. After continually having pre-term contractions, I was eventually put on complete bed-rest early in my third trimester and spent almost two months in bed. A day afterwards, I delivered a very sick premature baby who could not breathe on his own. I can't imagine what would have happened if I had continued to see the OB who insisted that I was not familiar with what contractions were.

Really, these are just small snip-its of my experience with government healthcare, and they are far from what I think people want for themselves and their families. Go online and read the proposed legislation here. I don't disagree that our current insurance and healthcare industries need reform, but that is not what this bill allows for. I don't disagree that our current insurance and healthcare industries need reform, but that is not what this bill allows for, and at least we have choices with what we currently have. No matter how you feel, find a town hall meeting in your area and let your representatives know how you feel about the plan. If this plan is passed, it will affect your take-home paycheck and your healthcare, and I don't think you'll like the outcomes.

-Stephanie

In Layman's Terms

I'm a serious Dave Ramsey follower, but that should clue you in on how strong my financial knowledge is. Let's just say that if my financial knowledge were measured in grade school terms, mine would be in kindergarten. That's why I like Dave. His guidelines are just what my knowledge-less self needs to keep from financial ruin. That being said, I have my own opinions of the federal government's recent financial actions, but I always preface those opinions with the statement that I am not an economist. The following video brings a current situation down to my level. I'm sure you are much more financially advanced than me, but you may be interested.

When Pigs Fly

My planned post about the explosion of Twitter has been delayed by the more dominant and sudden explosion of the Swine Flu. (From here on, I'll refer to it as pig flu simply because I think that sounds better. I could opt for the newly coined "North American Flu," but I like "pig flu" better.) I'll get back to Twitter another day.

I'm not sure if pig flu is dominating the talk around your area, but here in Central Texas it is all anyone is talking about. (Actually, at church last night, no one said a word about pig flu. And, I haven't been out of the house other than that this week, but from the looks of the local newspaper, it appears that outside the confines of my bubble, that's all anyone is talking about.) For the purposes of this blog entry, let's just assume that people are talking about this as much as the media is leading me to believe.

The school districts in my area that have already closed are Cibolo, New Braunfels and Comal. There are other districts in the state that have also closed for decontamination, most notably Fort Worth ISD.  As of this writing, only one school in Austin has closed for pig flu. I don't have children in school or day care, and that is a great relief at this point. However, I have wondered to what extent I should heed the warnings of the health department. 

Should we avoid eating out until contamination is less likely? I'm not suggesting I could be contaminated via a pork chop, but just that any unnecessary public congregating might should be avoided. What about church? In one nearby county, the health department has advised all churches to cancel all activities other than one abbreviated service on Sunday. It is a bit of a nagging thought to drop leave my children in classes with other children attending school who have higher contamination probability. I'm talking about kids who eat their boogers, are not ashamed to let snot freely run from their noses and not shield flying mucous from spraying from their noses and mouths via sneezes and coughs. Can't you just see little Suzy sneezing and microscopic pigs flying through the air and building new homes for themselves in Cooper?! I'm painting a lovely picture here, aren't I?  What about shopping? I always wipe down the cart at the grocery store before touching it or seating one of the kids in it, but is that enough? 

My initial thought is to just go about normal activities with a few slight enhancements. I don't think we'll avoid anything other than taking the kids to the store or the gym. I assume it's safe, but not necessary. Why not avoid it if possible? As for any other outings, I'll just increase the "hanisizer" usage when in public. (That's hand sanitizer for those of you who don't the language of my children.)

But, more so my thoughts have turned to the politics of this matter. If you know me, that's an obvious path. I was informed by a friend yesterday that after the schools were closed in her area of north Texas, all children were ordered to remain secluded in their own homes. Gathering for play time was prohibited and the police would be patrolling to enforce the order. The question to that is "What would they do?" Would they arrest a child or parent of a child who is playing at the park? If so, under what law? Doesn't that seem a bit unconstitutional? For a flu strain that the CDC has deemed not fatal, that seems beyond the realm of reason.

A conspiracy theorist was featured on a local morning radio show here in Austin yesterday and presented his idea that the pig flu was created by President Obama so that he could enact martial law. I'm all about not trusting the government, but that does seem largely ridiculous. A quick online search today found multiple conspiracy theorists: 1. Obama declared a "state of emergency" response to pig flu to promote the nomination of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius as Dept. of Health & Human Services Secretary; 2. the fear mongering has been encouraged to lead to martial law and then Obama tearing up the Constitution; 3. the U.S. military has created the pig flu strain to control the population. I'm sure there are plenty more theories out there, but they are all too ridiculous to put more time into finding them. If you're interested, check out the Retard Zone here: http://retardzone.com/2009/04/27/top-10-swine-flu-conspiracy-theories/ to see the top 10 pig flu conspiracy theories.

Governments are even politicizing this new flu outbreak. The Indonesian Health Minister has accused Western governments of engineering the flu strain to oppress developing countries and boost the profits of pharmaceutical companies.  My favorite thus far is the Israeli government's response. They are insisting that the strain be dubbed the "Mexican flu" because "pig flu" is not kosher. 

I don't know what to think of all the uproar. Without a medical education, I am not qualified to determine what the appropriate governmental response should be to the pig flu. However, I am intrigued by the current goings-on. If you think you may have the pig flu and want to know the symptoms to look for, or you're just looking for a good chuckle, go here: http://www.doihavepigflu.com/

Earl Grey, Anyone?

April 15: Yes, it's the deadline for filing your income tax returns. But, more so, today is TEA Party day. Tens of thousands of Americans gathered in more than 2,000 cities to peacefully protest the excessive government spending and bailouts. I so wish I was writing to relay what I saw at a rally as there were many in my area to attend, but work/family/church commitments kept me from attending. However, I've been following the action online throughout the day. And, for the first time in a long time, I'm proud of all the Americans who are standing up and letting their voice be heard from a conservative viewpoint!

Thousands rally in Illinois.

With the White House in the background, people protest at a TEA party.

4,000 congregated on the Michigan capitol.

More than 4,000 rallied at the Alamo in San Antonio.

If you aren't familiar, TEA stands for Taxed Enough Already. And, if this is news to you, I can't blame you. From what I've seen, the media has not covered this event as the marvel that it is/was.  It's so sad we've been informed more in the past week about the President's new family dog than we have this nationwide grass roots movement.  I'll let commentator Glenn Beck tell you what the rallies were about:

This is what the tea parties are about:

It's about spending — too much spending, to be specific. The idea that a business is too big to fail is anti-American; we've always been for the underdog.

It's about putting my family — my children — under $12.8 trillion in debt; all it took was two presidents and six months.

It's about the idea that we're all socialists now.

It's about the idea that the government can force companies, banks and states to take money and the strings that are attached to it, that they didn't want.

It's about power — too much power going to federal government.

It's about corruption — too much corruption, in both parties.

It's about the rule of law — that no one is above the law: if you're here legally or illegally, it applies-never too rich or powerful.

It's about if you write the tax code you should pay your taxes.

It's about the Republic, not mob rule.

It's about the concept of free speech — we've been called insane, lunatics and worse, just for speaking out.

It's about the years of lies from both parties — a Republican Party that claims to be for small government but gives us Medicare Part D that's got $17 trillion in unfunded liabilities.

It's about hypocrisy — both parties claim to be the most ethical, but we get corruption and not one damn person in Washington to speak out against it.

It's about the media that gets into bed with one party and has moved so far left that it can't even begin to see we're not extremists, we're moms and dads who just want to have a Republic for our children; but they can't see it.

But I'm the extremist.

Bush and Obama spend or put us on the hook for $12.8 trillion, but I'm the extremist?

Cap and Trade without any plan on who pays the taxes or where the money goes, but I'm the extremist?

States are looking to apply retroactive taxes — that's like changing the rules in the middle of the game — but I'm the extremist?

Vilifying AIG executives, without any law being broken, just for accepting money they were owed, but I'm the extremist?

Bush and Obama have taken over and want to take over banks, car manufacturers and insurance companies, but I'm the extremist?

The politicians in the House and Senate stuff $20 billion in pork and earmarks into spending bills when we have to beg the Chinese to loan us that money, and I'm the extremist?

A Supreme Court justice and Harold Koh, who will help run the State Department, talk about trans-nationalism and by definition a diminished role for the Constitution, but I'm the extremist?

Politicians openly talk of the Fairness Doctrine — or its ugly twin, "localism" — and curtailing my free speech, but I'm the extremist?

Unions and big labor politicians want to take away the right to a secret ballot, but I'm the extremist?

I believe in the Constitution. I believe in the Founding Fathers. I believe in the American people. When did believing those things make someone — anyone — an extremist?

I'm not the extremist.

I learned something from a lawyer friend of mine who won lots of cases in front of judges and lawyers — I asked him how he won so many cases. He said it's easy: If the law supports my client's position I argue the law. If not, I argue the facts. If the facts don't support my client's position, I just attack the opposition.

They can't attack the message, so I guess they have to target the messenger.

Wow! If you can't get behind that, I don't know what you're getting behind. Maybe you should look into the spending and voting record of the politicians you are voting for. It is YOUR money they are budgeting, or rather, spending frivolously. Well, I mean, it WAS your money. It's now AIG, GMC, Chrysler, CitiBank, and many other for-profit companies. Look into it.

And, even if you've been behind the bailouts and government spending spree, maybe you should look into the aftermath and re-evaluate your support.  This information comes from a Robert Gibbs interview by ABC News' Jake Tapper. Gibbs was questioned earlier this week about a report that the Obama administration released in January -- which showed what could happen to the unemployment rate if their world saving stimulus package was not passed. Here are the highlights:

1) By their own estimation, the stimulus isn’t working as planned: The administration’s own estimates said that if the stimulus would pass, the unemployment rate would never rise above 8%. Its peak would be around 7.9% around the end of the year. Well…It’s at 8.5% already, and most economists seem to think it’s getting worse before it gets better.

2) By their own estimation, the stimulus might be making things worse: The administration’s report showed that the unemployment rate would be about 8.1% right now if we had done NOTHING. So, it’s either that the stimulus plan is actually making things worse, or the economy is significantly worse than they thought. 

3) What does this do to their estimates?: If their economic prognosis was this far off, this soon, what does this do to their deficit estimates 6 or 8 years out? They already were very ugly, but doesn’t this make them far worse?

Now, they do admit that there are high levels of uncertainty in their estimates–but this is the scenario that they’ve planned for. It’s early proof that the charges of “rosy scenarios” were correct.

Now who’s ready for their universal healthcare estimates?

Call to Action

Here I go again with the political blogging. But, this time I'm including a challenge. Unless you've been living under a rock, you know that President Obama is trying to push a "stimulus" bill through congress. This bill is the supposed help America needs to recover from the economic slump, or recession, or depression, whatever you want to call the current status of the economy.

However, this bill is far from stimulus. In a time of financial crisis, this bill contains more pork than any bill ever passed through the U.S. Congress. Take a look at this list of proposed excessive spending:

• $2 billion earmark to re-start FutureGen, a near-zero emissions coal power plant in Illinois that the Department of Energy defunded last year because it said the project was inefficient.
• A $246 million tax break for Hollywood movie producers to buy motion picture film.
• $650 million for the digital television converter box coupon program.
• $88 million for the Coast Guard to design a new polar icebreaker (arctic ship).
• $448 million for constructing the Department of Homeland Security headquarters.
• $248 million for furniture at the new Homeland Security headquarters.
• $600 million to buy hybrid vehicles for federal employees.
• $400 million for the Centers for Disease Control to screen and prevent STD's.
• $1.4 billion for rural waste disposal programs.
• $125 million for the Washington sewer system.
• $150 million for Smithsonian museum facilities.
• $1 billion for the 2010 Census, which has a projected cost overrun of $3 billion.
• $75 million for "smoking cessation activities."
• $200 million for public computer centers at community colleges.
• $75 million for salaries of employees at the FBI.
• $25 million for tribal alcohol and substance abuse reduction.
• $500 million for flood reduction projects on the Mississippi River.
• $10 million to inspect canals in urban areas.
• $6 billion to turn federal buildings into "green" buildings.
• $500 million for state and local fire stations.
• $650 million for wildland fire management on forest service lands.
• $1.2 billion for "youth activities," including youth summer job programs.
• $88 million for renovating the headquarters of the Public Health Service.
• $412 million for CDC buildings and property.
• $500 million for building and repairing National Institutes of Health facilities in Bethesda, Maryland.
• $160 million for "paid volunteers" at the Corporation for National and Community Service.
• $5.5 million for "energy efficiency initiatives" at the Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration.
• $850 million for Amtrak.
• $100 million for reducing the hazard of lead-based paint.
• $75 million to construct a "security training" facility for State Department Security officers when they can be trained at existing facilities of other agencies.
• $110 million to the Farm Service Agency to upgrade computer systems.
• $200 million in funding for the lease of alternative energy vehicles for use on military installations.

Yeah. That's a lot of pork, especially for a president who said there would never be special interests in his administration. 

Please take a lot at this bill and what it means for our nation's debt. Is it worth it to you? Is it worth the abundance of taxes we will eventually have to pay forth? That's not to mention the payment future generations will pay for this excessive gluttony. 

After you take a look at this bill, please take action and write your congressional representatives. You can go to congress.org and easily find the contact information for your senators and representatives. They need to know how we feel about this "stimulus package." There is also a petition on nostimulus.com that you can sign if you are not in favor of the current spending package being proposed. 

I've strayed from blogging about the political realm for quite a while. I wanted to leave it be and allow the dust to settle. I didn't want to form any opinions on our new president's performance until enough time had passed to allow a well-rounded performance assessment. However, he jumped the gun, and gave me something to not only be disappointed in, but even disgusted.

In just his third day in office, President Obama lifted the ban on giving federal funds (read: our taxpayer dollars) to international groups that provide abortions and/or abortion information. Granted, he's not the first president to lift such a ban. The ban, originally implemented by the Reagan administration, was also lifted by former President Clinton, while both Presidents Bush upheld the ban. 

Make no mistake about me, I am pro-life in every situation with zero exceptions. I believe it is immoral. I'm not even interested in debating anyone on that issue. However, I feel that this political situation is a whole other issue. I find it absurd that a president would allow our taxpayer funds to be used in such a way.  This issue is so widely opposed by almost half of those who contribute the funds that would be applied. If these countries are so much in need of our citizens' moneys, the ban put in place by Reagan did not ban citizens from contributing their own moneys to this cause they support. No American has ever been personally banned from making their own contributions to these international groups.  However, our new president has now issued a call that my tax dollars are mandated to go to a cause that is so obscene to me. Wasn't this country founded on freedom? I certainly don't feel free in this instance. I feel bound to other citizens' cause, their ideals, and their wants. 

I'm so disappointed in all the bi-partisan promises and statements that he would be bringing people together. If that was true, why did President Obama choose this issue, the most divisive in our country's history, as one of his first to act upon? I'm not alone in my disappointment. On Saturday, Monsignor Rino Fisichella of the Vatican stated about Obama's act, "Among the many good things that he could have done, Barack Obama instead chose the worse."

I can take a bit of solace in being a Texas resident. At a pro-life rally attended by thousands in Austin on Saturday, Gov. Perry asserted his support of all pro-life efforts. He even owed to fight all research that requires an end to human life, i.e. stem cell research. He's serious, folks.  

Unfortunately, President Obama is just as serious.  He attended a similar gathering last week but it was instead a celebration of the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. He didn't address his lifting of the ban, but did address the moral questioning of the abortion issue, using the chance to re-state his commitment to supporting women's rights. I wish I could ask him how he decides which women to support. Why does he choose to not support the millions of female babies who's lives will be aborted by his decision? And, I'm a woman. I certainly don't feel supported by Obama with the lifting of this ban. I feel stepped on and ignored.

Does It Matter?

I'm pondering the question these days and am now asking you, does it matter who gets elected? Don't get me wrong. I'll still vote. (In fact, this will be my first time to actually vote in a voting booth. I have never voted anything but absentee by mail, since I maintained my Texas residency/voter registration, but didn't live in Texas. I'm a bit nervous and don't want to look like a bafoon, but will be at the polls with bells on.) 

But, I can't help but wonder if it really matters. Over the course of the last week or two, I've watched George Bush exercise a wide (or in my opinion, illegal) range of his Constitutional powers and push for spending that I never thought he was capable of supporting, much less instigating. (Oh, how I wish I was in a Conn Law class now instead of 10 years ago.) It makes me wish the George Bush I voted for in 2000 was the one currently at the helm. He's just not the same politician these days. Does Washington do that to all of them? 

  

Will it matter who gets elected? I've decided it won't matter. Whomever Sen. Obama or Sen. McCain says they are now, I don't think either one will be a spittin' image of that person in eight years, or even four, from now. 

So, I'm sticking with putting God at the helm. As Rich Mullins sings, "You have been king of my glory. Won't you be my Prince of Peace." Instead of putting my faith in the hands of politicians in this time of "crisis," I'm choosing to live in peace and not worry, fret or debate over what the right course of action is, whether the issue is financial or presidential. Isn't that what all the hippies have been saying for years? Peace, man. 

My Two Cents

I'm busy, very busy. 

Yesterday was a race to get the kids and myself ready and out the door to church. On the way home from lunch, we stopped off to pick up food for lunches and breakfasts that have to be packed every morning. We made it home late but I still got both of them down for short naps. While they slept, I tried to conquer the week's laundry. It's all done and folded, but still waiting to be put up. I'll get to it before I sleep tonight.

This morning was the usual. I raced around in the dark of morning and rushed out the door by 7:15 to get Abigail and Cooper to school. I made it back home just in time for work at 8. I used my lunch break to pick up Abigail and take her to swim lessons. Once school was out, we ate dinner, had baths and spent the rest of the evening at storytime at the library. (On a sidenote, the puppet show was outstanding tonight.)

Tomorrow is no different except there are no swim lessons or library events. I will spend my lunch break at the YMCA filling out paperwork for t-ball that starts next week. After dinner, there is a parent/teacher meeting at Abigail's school. On Wednesday we'll head out to AWANAs for the evening, and so on. 

Lest ye forget, I also have a full-time job I throw into the middle of all this mommy stuff. But, that job doesn't involve world peace and meeting with hurricane victims and balancing the federal budget and schmoozing with legislators. 

And, I only have two kids. Sarah Palin has five. 

I know, I know.  You think I'm sexist that I'm bringing this up. But, please know that I brought this up about Barack Obama long before Sarah Palin was a household name. He touts his young daughters and parades them around to make it appear as if he is a strong father figure. Maybe he is, but I doubt it. And, if he becomes the president, he most certainly won't be there to tuck them in at night. He won't be at all their school assemblies or soccer games. And, I say the same about Sarah Palin. Will she be visiting the troops in Iraq on Christmas Day or at home with her kids? 

The same people who are screaming to bring the troops home, and shout the horrors of daddies having to be gone from families, are touting candidates who also have families at home that they will be essentially abandoning for at least four years. Both party tickets have candidates with young children still at home. Can anyone really convince me that you can chase down Al Qaida while attempting to solve the energy crisis during the day and be home in time to have dinner and tuck the kids into bed at night?

I don't fault anyone singing Palin's praises and sticking "McCain-Palin" bumper stickers to their vehicles. From what I've read, I fully agree with her policy stance. But, I just can't get past her family role. And, how can evangelicals hoist her up on their shoulders after years of preaching family values? Have they forgotten their own teachings or are they just picking the lesser of two evils? If it's the latter, I wish they'd clarify that.

I'm done listening to pundits and talking heads. I picked up a few books at the library tonight. "Family Driven Faith," "Beyond Left & Right: Helping Christians Make Sense of American Politics," "Why the Right Gets it Wrong & the Left Doesn't Get it: God's Politics" and "The Great Awakening: Reviving Faith & Politics in a Post-Religious Right America" are hopefully going to help me clear a path through the thoughts I have on this upcoming election. And, if I take my daughter's advice, I'll find some truths in the Bible that lead to a clearer understanding of my own position on the issues. I'm sure God has an opinion on this situation. Don't you think?

Barack Makes Me Want to Yack

We have watched enough of the DNC this week to make us sick to our stomachs. I feel compelled to watch the big moments, i.e. Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton, thus far. But, I hate whatever it is that compels me to watch. Do I need to watch it to stay informed of all issues? Or, should I just confirm that I'm a conservative and refuse to waiver and ignore what else is going on? I don't know if it's best to ignore it or observe it. What I do know is that it makes me want to scream.

Daniel made an excellent point last night... "I want someone to stand up there and say, 'When I was on the campaign trail, I met this man who works three jobs to support his family. He asked me to fight for him and keep him from having to pay taxes to support lazy butts who don't want to work.' That's the candidate who I'll stand up for."

I agree! I'll give that person a standing ovation! What happened to expecting people to work for what they get and not complaining that they don't get enough handouts?! 

I'm not a fan of McCain's but I am certainly not even a friend of Obama's. He and his wife are only concerned with attacking America. Why haven't we heard either of them extoll the virtues of this great country or go on about how fortunate they are to be living and prospering in America? Especially during Michelle's speech on Monday, how could she describe the poverty she came from and not admit that America offers success for anyone who is willing to work for it? Look where she has risen to! What a country! But, you'll never hear her say that.

Now, we're starting to hear more rumblings from the Obama campaign and even Nancy Pelosi about the redistribution of wealth. Oy! What a hypocrite! Obama's own brother, George, lives in a mud hut in Nairobi on less than $12 a year. Barack Obama won't even extend his wealth or charity to his own personal family, but expects me to jump up and cheer when he talks about sharing my finances with people who don't earn their own. 

To make matters even more despicable, in the Saddleback Forum Obama purported to be a Christian and claims that America's greatest moral failure is not abiding by Jesus' command to care for the "least of these." But we now know that he doesn't even consider his own brother to be a "least of these."