Katrina's Blog

5 Things you will loose under the Obama Healthcare Plan

2009-07-28T09:30:00.000-07:00

Here is a great article publlished by CNNMoney.com on what you will loose under the Obama Healthcare Plan:

1. Freedom to choose what's in your health plan
2. Freedom to be rewarded for healthy living, or pay your real costs
3. Freedom to choose high-deductible coverage
4. Freedom to keep you existing plan
5. Freedom to choose your doctors

http://money.cnn.com/2009/07/24/news/economy/health_care_reform_obama.fortune/index.htm?postversion=2009072410

With so much hype on reforming the healthcare system, I find very little information on actual numbers and costs on how this reform will fund itself. BarackObama.com highlights the current situation and solutions, but what good is a solution without a logical plan to run the program without a deficit? HealthReform.gov also has several reports on why it is necessary to reform health care but does not have specifics. It is drilled into our heads that something or anything needs to be done to create CHANGE. What I find hard to believe is the lack of information available on what this change will actually mean for each individual.

Here are several pro-H.R. 676 websites that advocate how good this reform will be because it will lower health care costs, etc. yet there is no figures, numbers, and/or specified plan on how providing health care for over 300 million people will work.

http://www.healthcare-now.org/
http://www.uhcan.org/
http://www.amsa.org/

Of course everyone wants something for nothing...but as we have all grown to learn, if it's too good to be true, it probably is.

Do your research on the topic before making up your mind!

Mixing Business with Pleasure...

2009-07-28T07:10:00.001-07:00

What happens when individuals such as Chris Dodd, head of the Senate Banking Comittee, and Kent Conrad who is Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee mix business with pleasure? A very controversial allegation between one of the biggest mortgage company of our time and two well known Senators.

It is alleged that these two men knew that they were given "preferential" treatment when receiving their discounted Countrywide rates, as well as zero points from Countrywide on the actual cost of a loan. Both Dodd and Conrad deny the allegations stating they were not aware of such favors.

How do two well-educated men, both Senators and leaders of this country, not understand whether or not they are being given preferrential treatment by a lender? It's as easy as comparing fair market interest rate to the rate on your loan documents, and as easy as picking up a phone to call your loan officer/broker to ask simple questions about fees.

Moral of the story:
If you don't ask you won't know, and if you don't know it's because you never asked! Know the facts before signing on the dotted line!

2009-07-20T07:14:00.000-07:00

I just started reading "Common Sense" by Glenn Beck who plainly puts into words and numbers the real economic mess we are making for ourselves.

At a time where the current administration is trying to get Congress to approve a $1,500,000,000,000 health care plan and already $8,500,000,000,000 spent towards bailout money, how can we possibly afford more of this type of spending? It has been reported that we are in over $11,000,000,000,000 in debt and the number just keeps growing. Neither Republican nor Democrats have come up with a reasonable plan to pay off this amount of debt including all interest that will be accrued, yet we continue on a path of spending spree that does not seem to help with the economy.

At what point does our government decide enough is enough? And what point does it become acceptable to let private entities fail when they are not doing a sufficient job in keeping their noses clean? How can any entity, whether government or a business, run at a deficit without proper means to repay what is being owed? The numbers are staggering, and seeing where all this debt will lead us to is down right frightening.

Glenn Beck couldn't have made better sense by entitling his book Common Sense....

Contending Ahmadinejad

2009-06-15T07:01:00.000-07:00

AP is reporting: TEHRAN, Iran – Tens of thousands of supporters of pro-reform leader Mir Hossein Mousavi are streaming through the center of Tehran in a boisterous protest against election results that declared President Mamoud Ahmadinejad the winner.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/ml_iran_election

The current election held in Iran is proving to be very difficult for Mamoud Ahmadinejad. The rise in protest from people who are backing his opponent, Mir-Hussein Mousavi, have come front and center showing a rise in discontent in Ahmadinejad's power over the Iranian people. Protests and rallies have been planned to demand an appeal to the election declaring Ahmadinejad the winner, but with Ahmadinejad's tight control over the government, it has been difficult to organize any type of legal protest.

To challenge a political juggernaut like Ahmadinejad at a time where Iran is facing potential confrontation with the United States show that the Iranian people are just not content with his handling of international and domestic issues. Mousavi, known to be a reformer with a pro-western friendly attitude towards international relations, has proven to be the contrast of Ahmadenijad's policies. If Mousavi gets his wish in contesting and then winning the election, he could play a considerable role in bringing neutrality within the region.

I commend and support those Iranian people who are willing to stand up to their own government in hopes of making their voices heard. The Iranian people have shown the rest of the world not all of them are happy with Ahmadenijad's policies, and that he does not speak for all Iranians. Let us learn from the Iranian people who show that speaking out against its own government during a time of discontent is the right thing to do--no matter what the repercussions.

United States Army

2009-05-23T23:17:00.000-07:00

I am proud to say that on May 22, 2009 I was sworn in to defend and protect the Constitution of the United States of America.

I will proudly be serving in the US Army.

Objectivity vs. Subjectivity

2009-05-20T07:34:00.000-07:00

As many of you may know the question of objectivity and subjectivity has always been a major factor in our political system. Others may associate it with "what's right for you, is not necessarily right for me, and what's right for me, may not necessarily right for you."

Everyone has their own subjective truth and there has been a recent but relentless push for acceptance of all subjective truths. How does society function as a whole when objectivity is diminished and we function solely on subjective interest? John Locke once wrote that "humans are communal creatures"; based on this foundation, there must have been some predominant agreement in the need to protect each individuals interest based on some objective knowledge of right and wrong. Otherwise, how would it have been possible to form society if each individual acted on their own subjective interest?

So will subjectivity in the form of globalization and different cultural acceptance (no matter how weird and sometimes lascivious) be the down fall of our democracy?

Shuttin' Detroit Down

2009-04-23T13:16:00.000-07:00

So with the bailouts helping out corporate giants, those who are really hurting aren't getting a dime and end up loosing their jobs. A time of pain produces controversy and good music...Here's the lyric of John Rich's "Shuttin' Detroit Down"

Check it out...

My daddy taught me in this country everyone’s the same.
You work hard for your dollar and you never pass the blame,
When it don’t go your way.
Now I see all these big shots whining on my evening news,
About how they’re losing billions and it’s up to me and you
To come running to the rescue.

Well pardon me if I don’t shed a tear.
They’re selling make believe and we don’t buy that here.

Because in the real world they’re shuttin’ Detroit down,
While the boss man takes his bonus-paid jets on out of town.
DC’s bailing out them bankers as the farmers auction ground.
Yeah while they’re living up on Wall Street in that New York City town,
Here in the real world they’re shuttin’ Detroit down.
Here in the real world they’re shuttin’ Detroit down.

Well that old man’s been working in that plant most all his life,
Now his pension plan’s been cut in half and he can’t afford to die
And it’s a crying shame, cus he ain’t the one to blame.
When I look down to see his calloused hands,
Well let me tell you friend it gets me fightin’ mad.

Cause in the real world they’re shuttin’ Detroit down,
While the boss man takes his bonus-paid jets on out of town.
DC’s bailing out them bankers as the farmers auction ground.
Yeah while they’re living up on Wall Street in that New York City town,
Here in the real world they’re shuttin’ Detroit down.

Yeah while there living up on Wall Street in that New York City town,
Here in the real world they’re shuttin’ Detroit down.
Here in the real world they’re shuttin’ Detroit down,
In the real world they’re shuttin’ Detroit down.
They’re shuttin’ Detroit down.

Obama signs 'imperfect' spending bill in private (AP)

2009-03-11T15:02:00.000-07:00

President Obama's first 100 days in office is proving to be nothing more than a big spending spree of tax payer dollars. So much so that the Associated Press reports that he signed the last "pet project" created by Congress in private. An "imperfect" $410 BILLION bill was signed by President Obama which contained thousands of earmarks. Both Republicans and Democrats alike asked for a piece of the pie to help fund projects in their states.

President Obama said during his campaign that he will reform government's wasteful spending on earmarks, yet in his latest remarks he said he would only "...curb them and not eliminate them."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090311/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama_spending;_ylt=AgqjS8QKmNILwUdfkOQHNVPZn414

How can future generations afford to pay for "imperfect" bills being passed so recklessly by the government? Has the government taken on a life of its own? Or did the majority who voted for Obama actually want this to happen? Either way its happening and those who are against it are almost powerless to do anything about it. All that can be done now is to vocalize opinions, and hope that it gets you somewhere.

Don't loose faith, just work harder to get it done!

YES on Prop 8

2008-12-20T10:01:00.000-08:00

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,470544,00.html

"SAN FRANCISCO — California Attorney General Jerry Brown changed course on the state's new same-sex marriage ban Friday and urged the state Supreme Court to void Proposition 8."

After months of campaigning and millions of dollars spent on the proposal (from both sides), the General Attorney of California, Jerry Brown, wants to void the proposition that would prohibit same sex marriages. His claim is that the Proposition is unconstitutional.

In May of 2008 a ban was overturned to allow gay marriage to be legalized, with a 4-3 ruling from the Supreme Court, it created a lot of heated debate. However, it was actively enforced and people of the same sex were able to get married. Thousands of same sex marriage couple were married and given their certificates. This did not however change any laws or domestic partnership privilages that were already in place to accomodate same sex couples. It was for the sole purpose of being ackowledged as "married" or "domestic partners."

All the while, non-profit organizations such as ProtectMarriage.com were drumming up financial, and voter support to fight the ruling and to have the people of California vote on the issue. As the elections came and went, Proposition 8 was passed and it was now ruled by the majority (the people) that same sex marriages should NOT be allowed. So with a majority voting YES on 8 many would think that would end it, but only in California could such and issue create even more legal battles.

In this case the question goes far beyond the question of same sex marriages. The problem we have here is the voices of the citizens who are not being heard by the government who vowed to protect and serve them. Is the Attorney General proposing that everyone who voted is being unconstitutional?

THE PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA HAVE SPOKEN AND YOU MR. ATTORNEY GENERAL JERRY BROWN ARE DEPRIVING THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE IN YOUR STATE OF THEIR CONSTIUTIONAL RIGHTS THAT THEY SO RIGHTLY DESERVE!

CHANGE...

2008-12-08T18:35:00.000-08:00

Many of us including myself worried about the outcome of the election and exactly what it was going to do for our country. Fortunately there is light at the end of the tunnel. Things started to unravel themselves just a short time after the elections.

A couple weeks ago I learned that Obama would keep implementing the Bush tax policies until 2010 when they will set to expire. What this means is that the ideology of taking from hardworking individuals the money they earned would not be taken by the government who would "re-distribute" as they saw fit (as if they don't do that enough already).

Then I also learned Defense Secretary Gates was going to be re-appointed. Since Gates has served as Defense Secretary for the Bush administration and carried out the Bush policies for the past 2 years, many far left individuals are shocked at Barrack Obama's decision to keep him in position.

Below is a link to a very intersting article by Politico.com, they have noticed the center/almost right position Barrack Obama has taken to carry out his administration and how that has many liberals feeling deserted.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20081208/pl_politico/16292;_ylt=Atlv2gpQzbXmgs_9TjBB5XsazJV4

It's interesting how things can CHANGE so much from elections to only a month later. Am I as sorry that Barrack Obama was elected then as I am now? Not really, in fact I'm somewhat glad that he's taken some of these positions that he has. It gives me something to look forward to for the next 4 years.

Something to look forward to...

2008-11-07T15:05:00.000-08:00

I ordered my tickets for the Freedom Concert happening August 7th, 2009 is San Diego, CA. Yes, I know that seems so long away but I wanted to make sure that I got the best seat in the house.

For those of you who don't know about the Freedom Concerts, they are fundraisers hosted by Sean Hannity to raise money for children of military families who's lost loved ones or been permanently injured.

It is the least I can do to help the children of those who defended and continue to defend our country.

Please look into supporting this cause....if you are interested.

http://www.hannity.com/ >click on events and check out the one that's closest to your city

It's over and done with....

2008-11-04T21:12:00.000-08:00

The race is finally over....yes you guessed it, Obama is the next President of the United States of America.

They say "Change is coming.." but what kind of change and is it the change that we need?

For people like me who had other hopes for America, tomorrow will be a day of healing. We can only hope things are not going to be as bad as we think.

Hold your head high and may God Bless our country for the next 4 years.

Voting time!

2008-11-04T14:42:00.000-08:00

I will be voting sometime after 5 o'clock today. Such a small event can make such a difference in the world. Americans are not the only ones interested in our political events, the people we choose to represent our country will either help or hurt the rest of the world.

Israel, Iran, Venezuela, Russia, and China (not to mention Al Qaeda and other radicals) are amongst some of the people very interested in the outcome of this race.

Tomorrow is a brand new day, and I hope and pray the right people are elected to lead our country.

Expelled

2008-11-03T13:29:00.000-08:00

Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed

http://www.expelledthemovie.com/

A controversial documentary created by and starring Ben Stein examines the battle between Darwin's Theory of Evolution and Intelligent Design in the realm of science. The extent in which some scientists go through to outcast those who believe in anything other than Darwin's Theory is downright frightening.

Science is supposed to be about the exploration for answer to unanswered questions. The last time I checked there was NO indisputable response to the beginning of life, yet there is only one acceptable answer being taught in schools and to the public. Since when did Darwin's THEORY become fact?!

I urge those who are interested in the study of I.D. as well as Darwin's Theory to watch this documentary with an open mind, and decide not on whether you believe in I.D. but rather on the idea that non-believers are trying to keep it censored.

26 Days Left

2008-10-08T10:14:00.000-07:00

In less than a month we will be determining a new strategy for our country, McCain or Obama. This election is one of the most volataile election of our lifetime and the stakes couldn't be any higher. Drama and controversy surround all the candidates, if you didn't know any better you would think it was a soap opera of some sort.

I'm registered, and ready to vote...are you?

An American Carol vs. Religulous

2008-10-03T10:10:00.000-07:00

An American Carol directed by David Zucker is the first movie of its kind, and I am super excited! A movie starring such stars as Trace Adkins, John Voight, Kelsey Grammar, Dennis Hopper, Bill O'Reilly amongst others...is poking fun at liberals. This is will hopefully put some balance into the restricted acceptance of moderates into the Hollywood political spotlight.

Religulous is a movie written and starring Bill Mahr who pokes fun solely at God and religions. The movie is classified "documentary" but decide for yourself whether or not you think so. The well known comedic atheist finally decided to venture into the big screen.

What I find interesting is how Bill Mahr did not interview one of his closest friend who is a firm believer in God...and who may you ask is this friend?....you guessed it Hugh Heffner! Maybe Bill was too afraid he wasn't going to be accepted to "heaven" when he dies, you know the one that he calls "the Playboy Mansion."

Let me know what movies you think you can appeal to.

Global Warming...

2008-09-07T19:55:00.000-07:00

What do you guys think?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDI2NVTYRXU

Frankly I care about the enviornment but am not certain that we are in any grave danger.

Summer is almost over

2008-08-13T23:10:00.000-07:00

10 weeks of Spanish has my head spinning with so many palabras....ugh! It was tough but glad that I made it through in one piece. It's been tough trying to find time to relax between everything else that's been going on.

God Bless everyone hope you are all having a wonderful summer as well.

Am I the only one?!

2008-06-24T13:23:00.001-07:00

Walking home with a couple of my classmates from Spanish class our conversation turned political and naturally they asked me if I was a Republican. Based on my point of views and who's policies I was advocating it was pretty obvious. They jumped all over me for being conservative and being pro-military.

Am I in an alternate universe where I can no longer find people my age who believe and advocate the same views as I do? Conservatism came into my life when most people didn't even care about politics. Now at 25 I'm finding that most people my age still have far a different view from mine.

I guess the only question running through my mind is...
Is conservatism in young people dead?!

Super Tuesday!!!

2008-02-02T22:59:00.000-08:00

It's almost voting time and I'm super excited to finally know who I am voting for. I know Mitt Romney may not be everyones ideal candidate but with McCain running against him there is no doubt that Romney is the better candidate for me.

I know many people question him because of his Mormon religion, but when it comes to conservative and republican policies Romney beats McCain by a long shot.

See you guys at the polls!

- Katrina

Elections...

2008-01-18T13:58:00.000-08:00

The primaries are just around the corner...hmmmm....tough decisions need to be made. I just pray that the right people are nominated and elected. We can't afford to make mistakes in a time of war.

Who will you be voting for?

Insomnia....

2008-01-12T01:00:00.001-08:00

Ugh! Frustrating!!! Can't seem to go to sleep no matter what I do! :-(

I'll be exhausted tomorrow!

A New Beginning...

2008-01-09T10:55:00.001-08:00

A new year...a new start...another chance to try to make things right.

Funny how we can look at the new year as a starting point for a new beginning, by forgetting everything from the last year and starting over...I wish it was always that easy.

Blessings,
Katrina

Finally!!!

2007-12-17T21:17:00.000-08:00

The Fall semester is finally over! Ugh! That was tough! I went full time for Summer school since I wasn't able to attend Spring semester and went straight into Fall semester after that. That's probably the longest 7 months of my life! Just so relieved that it's over! :)

Can't wait for Christmas and the New Years to roll around, I need a much deserved vacation!

God Bless,
- Katrina

A movie that should be boycotted!!!

2007-11-28T14:07:00.000-08:00

A movie titled "The Golden Compass", which stars Nicole Kidman, looks like a great movie from afar. It targets young children to teens, and has been compared to movies like "Chronicles of Narnia" and such....But at a closer glance the hidden message is scary, and can be almost downright frightening! Please take time to read this article and to caution everyone you know about NOT watching this movie.

http://snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp

Thanks and God Bless!
- Katrina