This article was originally published in the Blue Street Journal. Since then the questions and misinformation about Obamacare haven’t faded and, in fact, there will be some changes as the law is implemented across the nation. Here’s an introductory primer:
There’s a lot of hype going around about ObamaCare, and by now you are probably getting mixed information about what the law actually is and how it will affect you. … [Read more]
“There is no more important domestic issue on which we have to have a national consensus than social security, because it affects just about all of us either as current beneficiaries or current taxpayers. Continuing the minimum benefit for present beneficiaries reflects a bipartisan consensus, which I strongly support.” ~ Ronald Reagan, December 29, 1981
Subsequent to that time, interfund borrowing ensued as what was supposed to be a temporary solution to fix financing difficulties faced by the Social Security program.… [Read more]
Religious leaders have called it immoral; some have even suggested that Jesus himself would oppose it. Various leaders of the Republican party have opposed it and even David Stockman, Ronald Reagan’s budget director, called it a fairy tale. Many on the left have referred to it as ‘austerity on steroids.’
What has all of these different people so upset?… [Read more]
Many of us are watching the next move in the political game of financial chess. Today, President Obama will submit his long-awaited budget proposal. Keeping focus on deficit reduction in the face of a slowly recovering economy and unemployment figures that hover in the upper end of the 7 percent level, the president’s proposal includes $1.8 trillion in deficit reduction over the next decade, which is expected to bring in total deficit savings to $4.3 trillion.… [Read more]
The other day, I listened to a priest talk about the Parable of the Prodigal Son. As he spoke, I started to think about what it really means to be a Christian and a human being in America today.
By no means am I a religious person, but the philosophy of Jesus of Nazareth has always been one of my guiding lights.… [Read more]
This week wraps up with the topic that promises to be the talk of Washington and the nation until it’s resolved one way or the other by January 1, 2013: the budget showdown, entitlement programs and the impending fiscal cliff. President Obama has repeatedly stated that Social Security is not on the fiscal cliff negotiating table but that message has been largely ignored by House Speaker John Boehner and congressional Republicans, and maybe even some Democrats.… [Read more]
I watched in horror as my home, New York City, was being blown away by Hurricane Sandy, and I was full of fear for my family and friends who were taking the mighty storm head on. I started thinking of the poor and the homeless and how they would survive the impact of the deviating storm.… [Read more]
In the past few weeks the presidential campaign has seen its share of ups and downs on both sides. According to recent polls, Mitt Romney continues to experience a bounce due in large part to his debate performance, while President Obama’s declining poll numbers reflect what many perceive to be his lack of fight. Unfortunately for voters, with this shift has come a noticeable change in the issues presented to voters — and much of what receives attention is not what has the most impact on the populace.… [Read more]
There is a lot of talk these days about the sandwich generation — people of a certain age who have both children and aging parents whom they care for. Some, like myself, may only have parents to care for. Even without the added duty of child rearing one may still feel ‘squeezed’ in the middle, only the last thing it feels like is being between two soft pieces of bread!… [Read more]
Perhaps it’s foul to put it quite that bluntly but, as is the case for many of us, election day can’t arrive soon enough. The campaign season seems endless; misleading ads, voter suppression efforts and full-throated lies may be what is expected but that doesn’t make it easier to endure. After all, while the follies go on there’s still a nation to run — and the more time we spend watching an extremely lackluster candidate who is supposed to represent the best that the ‘loyal opposition’ has to offer, it’s now just a matter of time and how disgusted the voting public can become.… [Read more]
Cardinal Dolan has announced that he will be offering the closing prayer at this year’s Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida. I decided to write him a letter.
Dear Cardinal Dolan:
You posted this tweet on your Facebook page:
St Augustine said there will be peace in the Christian heart only as long as our faith is watchful.… [Read more]
For all of the much heated attention focused from the right on the “tyrannies” of social safety nets like welfare, healthcare, and social security, these actually may be the only things keeping the country from turning itself inside out with a full-fledged Chinese inspired communist overthrow.
To today’s conservative, this might sound odd. Some, albeit very few, would claim that without these safety nets the economic downturn would have been much worse.… [Read more]
Since Mitt Romney announced Paul Ryan as his presidential running mate there has been a barrage of commentary surrounding the seven-term Congressman from Wisconsin. Quite naturally there has been much talk of his influence by Russian-American novelist and atheist Ayn Rand whom he has credited as his inspiration for entering politics. Something which he now is adamantly distancing himself — actually flat-out denying.… [Read more]
The GOP presumptive nominee Mitt Romney says that Wisconsin Representative Paul Ryan is the guy who is willing to “make the tough decisions”. Many of us can respect someone who is willing to analyse a situation (in which everyone has at least one opinion) and make a decision that could be unpopular. Quite often it appears that politicians on both sides of the aisle are completely content to kick the can of fiscal discipline and rational decision-making down the road.… [Read more]
A good chunk of my work day is spent managing social media. I scroll through Twitter feeds looking to engage in conversations. It’s fun. It’s also pretty sad. As much as I love Twitter, it really can be the Land of the Stupid. From misspelling of the word “The” to just plain old asinine chatter, Twitter is not a place for the faint of heart.… [Read more]
“I work hard. Why do I have to pay for other people’s misfortunes? Why must my hard-earned tax dollars go to support lazy leeches who have only themselves to blame for their lot in life?”
“Why should I care?”
In last week’s Great Society post, I tried to answer this question. The reason you should care, in short, is because it’s the right thing to do.… [Read more]
Like Kelly Clarkson, I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for Congressman Ron Paul. I’ve never been one of his staunch supporters but I could respect some of his Libertarian viewpoints, especially his anti-occupation sentiment with regard to the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. I also admired that he’s been a true maverick sharing ideas that ruffle the feathers of his party.… [Read more]
Where Republicans are concerned, their insane “policy positions” aren’t just shockingly out of touch and out of date, not just hypocritical and baseless, not just designed to humiliate President Obama and win the next election, not just a pack of lies and targeted manipulation to trick an uneducated voting base (although they’re all of that and more): They’re startlingly cruel.… [Read more]
We all think about what getting older means. What do you want to do when you’re 64? And beyond?
Planning now will help ensure that a good future awaits. And, with the best leaders in office, the ‘system’ will be strong and this country will see fit to make sure that our people are cared for – men and women.… [Read more]
A recent poll (polls...yeah, I know…) mentioned that Mitt Romney is leading President Obama in support from senior citizens. Other polls and articles have noted that of those who support Romney, a large number would be more likely to cast a vote against the POTUS rather than for R-Money. Regardless of the poll and how the results may be (mis)interpreted, a very important question must be asked: Who are those seniors supporting Romney, and what they thinking?… [Read more]
