10
December
2008
Sorry to be missing in action, AGAIN. Dealing with a surprise IRS audit from 2006 returns and writing an accreditation report don’t mix well with the “bloggin’ life”. My noggin’ is so overcome with brain strain that I would have been bloggin’ a bunch of nonsense or would have really stirred things up by complaining about the state of the U.S. economy, saying good-bye to “rabbit ear antannaes” and those idiots in Washington. Aren’t you glad that I spared you another round of political rants.
I did come up for air to learn that we managed to get ourselves a new president. Like the rest of you I have my thoughts about Mr. Obama and the job he is taking on. His wife, Michelle, was on “The View” one day last summer and referred to her hubby, as that poor pitiful man. I loved her way with words. I do feel for her husband. So many people are expecting him to make the world spin differently, and to rescue all of us.
I think Michelle knew he was going to take on a job that will be almost impossible to fulfill. He has a very angry group of Americans to please and to save. Bottom line is one man or one man and his new administrative staff can’t possibly turn our country around without everyone doing our part.
I know people are suffering and job losses, foreclosures and filing for bankruptcy, losing 1/2 of retirement are not close to being funny. Yet, Americans act like we’re reliving the “Great Depression”. Then on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, I read the major top selling items on Black Friday: plasma TV’s, Wii Games, IPods, MacBook Air, HD TV. Those make super gifts for a family or your kids, etc. However……..according to my parents…………
“This Ain’t Your Grandpa and Grandma’s Depression”. I know…people didn’t buy those products then, because they weren’t invented yet. That’s not the point I’m making. In the Depression many people did whatever they could to make ends meet. Extended families lived under one roof, money was used for necessities. There was little to no credit available.
We haven’t totally faced a return to the “Great Depression” or “Great Recession”. As long as there are long lines running out the door of Starbucks, things haven’t deteriorated for everyone.
Yet, there are people in your neighborhood and my neighborhood, who are barely scraping by. It’s hard for me to justify buying coffee for $3.50 when I know that some people are really in trouble financially. I’m no saint, but I’ve certainly been thinking that any extra $$$’s I have should go towards helping people, who are just not making it financially.
Mr. Obama can’t do this…get America back on its “Vision Passed Down from Our Founding Fathers”. I’m preaching to myself when I tell you to think about your money and where it’s going. The people in financial trouble could be you or me. These are not “dead beats” who are too lazy to work. They want to work. What can we do collectively as a country to help people get back on their feet?
I have no control over what happens in Washington, with the exception of my right to vote. However, I can certainly help families in my community whether this “perfect financial meltdown storm” by responding to legitimate needs. I urge you to consider doing the same things. If you have your job and you can help another, this is how we’re going to rebuild the spirit of America. It just can’t happen from the government making moves. We could sit back and complain, but I think that we could have a vital part in getting America back on its feet by taking responsiblity for returning to our former state of ethics, integrity and concern for our fellow neighbors.
Let me know what you think.
Mary Ann
Posted: Political Lamentations
8
October
2008
Okay, I’m a political junkie. I had a chance to listen to the debates on radio last night with all the other Los Angeles commuters parked on the freeway. We really should open our windows and talk to each other and make it a “Debate Party”. I think I’ve said this before. One thing I like about listening on the radio is that I miss the non-verbal. Though it came through in their speech. Of course, this was carefully orchestrated…even though Tom Brokaw reminded me of being a University Professor when you throw out the words …”No Child Left Behind” to a group of teachers. That’s like bringing leftover food of any kind to the teacher’s lounge at AnySchool! USA I really had to limit everyone’s time to give a seminar discussion type class the opportunity for everyone to have a chance to voice their opinion. The cool thing about that format is we were getting the “real authentic bottom line” truth. No one ever said, “Ms. Lowry or Mary Ann, I thank you so much for asking that question.” I understood all the nice pleasant comments and would have said “Thank you to everyone and even managed to throw in a comment or two about my family members” . However, I would probably never have a chance to be a presidential or even a vice presidential candidate. I’m ruined for life, because I finally learned that living authentically is so much easier. We really don’t know either candidate. They are highly coached. They practice their rhetoric and do whatever they can to deliver the information that will appeal to the American voter. I’m not saying that either candidate was dishonest, but to tell you the truth I’ve been duped by the system before. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: Political Lamentations
28
August
2008
Okay, IMHO, Obama definitely captured the attention and hit a home run. I write this as a “Life Long Conservative Republican”. Do I agree with his views on all issues impacting America today? No! However, I give him a huge, YES, because he touched a nerve that I know is beyond political rhetoric. I have fought ongoing battles with insurance companies, and totally identify with the story he shared about his mother.In 1995 I have fought my way back to a higher quality of life, after my life suddenly changed when I woke up in severe pain one day. I won’t make this a medical report. However, I will strongly say that America is not a great place to be when one has a rare chronic pain condition. Yes, we have great medical care and I’ve seen some incredibly brilliant health care providers. Thanks to their skills I was able to recover and I confidently say that I’m 80% better. The problem isn’t the lack of appropriate medical care in America. The issue is that one must have financial resources or be a “quick study” to battle with insurance companies to obtain services. I was lucky that we had a policy through my ex-husband’s insurance benefits that allowed us to go “out of network”. The HMO side of my insurance policy said that all treatments that were promising and had been proven to help others with my condition were viewed as “Not Medically Necessary”. Until around 2001 most of my care through “out of network providers” was covered at a 70% rate. After I was diagnosed with a neuropathic condition, suddenly the services were deemed “NOT MEDICALLY NECESSARY”. Since the early part of the 21st century, my tax forms reflect that I spend on average of $20,000 per year for doctor’s care, prescriptions, physical therapy and travel for medical care. Fortunately, I have/had the financial resources to find the funds for care. All was well until my two sons were both in college at the same time. Our savings set aside for college had dwindled to nothing. We took out home equity loans and/or borrowed from my parents to cover my high medical costs.I heard Obama loud and clearly when he spoke of his Mother’s struggle with cancer and spending her last days fighting with her insurance company for care. I’ve fought for so many services and spent my energy, which should have been devoted to healing, to draft letters and make copies of medical reports. My doctors have written letters in my behalf. One insurance company even told me that nerve blocks to treat my neuropathic condition could be self administered. I responded by asking them to form a team to meet with a friend and myself to train us how to administer these nerve blocks. I asked for medical literature to support the finding that patients should be responsible for administering their own nerve blocks. I explained that my physicians wouldn’t train me or a trusted frined to offer self treatment due to significant concerns over malpractice. I guess that the suggestion to train me to administer my own blocks forced them to approve just one more block and the funding for the blocks to be covered with at least 70% of the costs covered.What Obama said about the insurance companies in America is absolutely true!!!!!! I’ve lived that scenario and had no idea of the fact that insurance companies were in the business to show a profit. Wellpoint (i.e. Blue Cross) actually made a profit. I’m sure their investors were very pleased with this news. However, I’ve been on the phone for hours talking to patients, who were close to bankruptcy, due to medical costs. These are people with insurance. I’m lucky that my family and friends will loan me money to help with care. I have limited funds to cover my medical costs, but not nearly enough. Is it fair that I can feel better and escape a life of living in a body with torturous pain, because I have resources? Would you want to be the one, who had to suffer even though you spent $395 a month on health insurance premiums or saw that your family was covered and the benefit cost was deducted from your monthly gross pay?Others have insurance, as well, but can’t afford the quality of care that I receive. These aren’t “dead beats” or “irresponsible people living with no health insurance”. They suffer in pain for hours a day with high level pain meds, because they can’t afford care. There are proven treatments, which help immensely. However, many people in our country suffer, because laws favor the insurance companies. They have strong lobby’s and the laws in the United States at this point support insurance companies. It’s time for everyone to have equal rights to live a higher quality of life and access to to the quality of care that they need.I’m passionate on this issue, because I’ve lived it. I’d be happy to share my story with anyone and everyone to support the Obama camp in their effort to speak up for the rights of patients and not what’s in the best interest of insurance companies. This is a social concern that I feel strongly about and want more people to understand the plight of those in our country with rare chronic health conditions.With passion,Mary Ann Lowry
Posted: Political Lamentations
6
March
2008
Okay, amazing, my futuristic post written on Sunday proved to be right. In the meantime, I also learned that Rush Limbaugh was encouraging Republican voters to cross party lines and vote in the Democratic primary. The win wasn’t a landslide, but she had enough of an edge that she managed to win the primary in the mega state of Texas.
I asked my parents, who were never fans of Ms. Clinton or Mr. Clinton, whether they voted Democratic. They are very strong in their position of favoring the Republican platform. Fearing that she might actually be able to pull off a national election win, they just ethically couldn’t vote for her.
This truly isn’t about politics. I was really pleased that they voted according to their real genuine authentic viewpoint (the life coach has to weigh in somewhere). Seriously though, IMHO, no matter the status of the world, it will always be right to go with what you know to be right and honest in your heart. That’s a very naive innocent point of view. I’ve definitely heard from more than one person that I’m way too trusting and project my wishes on what I hope would be reality.
However, I truly do believe that there is a God in Heaven. That’s the vocabulary I use to refer to the deity based on my faith heritage. Whether we refer to God, as God, the divine, the Universe, the Deity, Higher Power, etc.; I genuinely believe that we have a loving God, who would love nothing more than for all of us to act out of hearts to do what we know what is right.
We’re looking for the right person to save America to correct the wrongs, to pass the right laws. I’m in favor of all of that. However, I feel that it’s actually more naive to put our trust in one person, who we elect to be our future president, to fix all that is wrong with our country.
We need each other to examine our actions and assess if we’re really behaving according to our honest authentic inner knowing. If we all began to act out of integrity, vote for who we truly believed in, listened to the messages we receive to guide us to our purpose; we would possess an incredible power as a country.
<>It seemed fascinating to me that people were going to vote for a candidate, who they didn’t believe in to accomplish a goal to put a Republican in the White House. Some did, because they felt that they must as they reasoned that this is the way the system works. Did they do wrong?
<>Too many people could throw stones at me for my own weaknesses, so I surely have no right to judge others. I just think we all need to realize that our system is one that calls for a game plan to win. People feel a need to control what they can, because they don’t trust the outcome without having a winning strategy.
<>The right to vote is a privilege. What can we do to see it as a privilege and not as a strategy? Can we get the America back that was based on the vision of our founding fathers?
Opinions anyone??????
Mary Ann
<>
Posted: Political Lamentations
2
March
2008
Hello!
Duh! How can I write a futuristic headline? Do I have a clue what is going to happen in my native state of Texas on Tuesday? Not Really.
No headline, but I’m doin’ a bit of speculating based on a hunch. In a conversation with another native Texan, he was fairly certain that Senator Clinton would win the Texas Primary. I had a million and one reasons why that wouldn’t happen. Texans have great memories and many resented her active role as first lady. There were many that didn’t appreciate President Clinton’s moral values and felt he definitely showed a lack of respect for the oval office. I could go on and on about why Texans would never vote for Hillary.
However, this is a primary and not the election. Americans love to win, but to Texans winning is of extreme importance. People still get goose bumps talking about when Texas beat Arkansas in the last few seconds of the game for the National Championship. James Street was the quarterback and Darrell Royal was the Head Coach for the University of Texas. That was in 1969 before many of this year’s eligible voters had even made an entrance in the world.
My friend reminded me that Texans like to have a winning strategy or game plan. Many Republicans register as Democrats to vote in the democratic primary. Okay, and your point is?? I still hadn’t connected the dots. Basically, there are quite a few Texans that want to keep a Republican in the White House in 2009. Who has the best chance of beating McCain??? In the assessment of some key figures, Obama has the best chance of defeating McCain and becoming our next President.
Therefore, the game plan on election day may involve going back ten yards and punting in the opposite direction to give Mc Cain the best chance of winning the presidency. The most strategic means of getting the job done would be to vote for Hillary in the Texas Democratic Primary. This win and a win in Ohio might give her delegates needed to be the Democratic nominee.
I should probably stick to life coaching topics and exploring ideas to make living easier. However, I do find this possible Texas strategy for primary voting to be interesting. I certainly never thought of voting in the primary as a strategic means to capture the White House by a Republican.
Is my friend’s opinion accurate? I have no idea. However, if Senator Clinton does pull off a mega win in Texas, I would certainly love to hear what folks have to say in the exit polls.
Politics has become dirty business. I don’t really know any of the candidates besides how they come across in debates and sound bites. However, this probably isn’t even close to who they really are as people. My wish is that we could start afresh and give the country back to hard working Americans. It cost tons of money to run for a federal government office. Unless our neighbor manages to attract backers with money, he/she doesn’t have a chance. I doubt that some of our more admired respected presidents like, Abraham Lincoln, would have what it takes to be elected today.
Whatever happens in Texas and Ohio, I feel that I don’t have much of a voice in our country except with my one vote. Perhaps Texans will have a strategic game plan, but will it make a huge difference…..I’d love to see change happen, as Americans pull together….not as corporations…but as individuals to back what we want to see happen in our country. I think that’s the way that we’re really going to win and accomplish anything in our nation’s capitol.
Just my opinion. Let me know yours.
Mary Ann
Posted: Political Lamentations
