Is our society hypersensitive?

Okay, today I had a few more minutes than in the past couple of weeks to participate in Facebook conversations. One of my Facebook friends posted a Huffington Post article, Lawrence O'Donnell Says He's 'Driving Glenn Beck Crazy', to which I wondered why we care about what one pundit is saying about another pundit. After several posts I made the comment "I call a spade a spade regardless of the side of the fence it finds itself" which was in response to the assertion that I always rail against the Left and primarily President Obama.

After a few more posts another Facebook member piped in calling me a racist because of what I posted. After a series of posts in all caps and filled with obscene language I was blocked from seeing this gentlemen's future posts. The conversation that led to the blocking was if the phrase "calling a spade a spade" originated as a racial slur or has it just become one over time. After a quick Google search I found several websites that point to Greek phrase of calling a fig a fig that was transformed into a spade a spade due to the agrarian culture. My question is the phrase calling a spade a spade really racist? Or is it just now considered a racial slur because of Obama becoming president?

“He was trying to get elected”

Sen. Byrd was laid to rest last Thursday after a long service to his country in the Senate. Many notable politicians, including Obama, Biden, and former President Clinton, came out to show their gratitude and honor the late Sen. Byrd. Now, we have been discussing the KKK, NOI and NAACP mission and push for their own agenda's based on race. In the latest update to the KKK website, which I posted previously, displayed their understanding that violence will not get their agenda push forward. Former President Clinton said in his eulogy for Sen. Byrd, "He once had a fleeting association with the Ku Klux Klan, what does that mean? I'll tell you what it means. He was a country boy from the hills and hollows from West Virginia. He was trying to get elected. And maybe he did something he shouldn't have done come and he spent the rest of his life making up. And that's what a good person does. There are no perfect people. There are certainly no perfect politicians."

President Clinton is correct that Sen. Byrd, who led the filibuster of the Civil Rights Act, ties to the KKK was foolish but I am not so sure he spent the rest of his life trying atone for it. Sen. Byrd voted against and attempted to block the confirmations of Clarence Thomas and Thurgood Marshall. While no one will deny Sen. Byrd's fondness and knowledge of the U.S. Constitution but let's be honest about the man. For President Clinton and President Obama to overlook Sen. Byrd's connection to the KKK because of his long service to the nation is a slap in the face to everyone that fought for Civil Rights. To say it was okay for Sen. Byrd to have ties, and they were very strong ties, to the KKK in order to get elected displays an attitude of our current political state of mind.

How many minorities out there believe that it would be okay for a man or woman to run for office on the sole basis of saying anything to get elected? I know this is America and we all have the right to hold our own views and say our own opinions but for two Presidents of the United States – one anointed the First Black President and the other actually being the First Black President – to wash away the sins of a man because "he was trying to get elected" is ludicrous. Thomas and Marshall were not the only non-white confirmations he voted against. He also voted against Condoleezza Rice. To say he made strides that overshadowed his racist start in politics is intriguing since this is the same man that used the term "white nigger" in a 2001 interview with Tony Snow. While his run in the Senate and the good he did for West Virginia is remarkable, I struggle with the notion for two presidents to forgive a man of his sins because "he was trying to get elected." Does no one else see the hypocrisy here?

Election Results may give pause to health care reform.

On Tuesday many Americans went to the polls to vote on local elections. Even though the elections were for local representation, two elections were getting plenty of national attention. The races for Governor in New Jersey and Virginia were both looked upon as a barometer for 2010 Congressional races. In both cases the sitting Democrat lost to their Republican challenger. While the spin was in high gear yesterday, the true impact will be seen on Capitol Hill as health care reform and cap and trade bills move forward. Even though the Democrats hold majority in both houses of Congress, those Democrats, many known as "Blue Dogs", in swing states are now taking pause to assess the ripple effect the elections have in their districts.

Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.) warned that "The House leadership needs to pay attention to what happened in Virginia." Rep. Taylor's words are echoed in the Senate by Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.). Sen. Conrad responded to the election results by saying, "The American people get it. They know we're on an unsustainable fiscal course." The realization by "Blue Dog" Democrats is reassuring as House Speaker Pelosi is pushing for a vote on the House's health care reform bill which is nearly 3000 pages long. Why, Speaker Pelosi is the bill so long? Health Care reform is not as complex as your bill makes it sound.

Ask yourself why not one single member of Congress in favor of the reform being looked at is not willing to participate in it by giving up their current health insurance coverage and switch to the "reformed" insurance coverage? Health care reform can be obtained without a 3000 page bill that will cost $1.2T over ten years according to the CBO. I have blogged about how to accomplish this without spending a dime but will say it again.

1. Create true competition through the interstate buying and selling of health care insurance.
   
2. Remove the anti-trust exemption.
   
3. Phase out Medicare and Medicaid.
   
4. Establish Medical Saving Accounts.
   
5. Tort reform
   
6. Require all medical record's to be computerized
   
7. Make health insurance portable
   

I know it is not a 12 step plan but it will work and achieve the goals the Obama administration has for health care reform. Doing these seven things to start with will lower premium costs, save taxpayer money, and make insurance available to all. We need fiscal responsible and logical decision making when dealing with an issue that is 1/6^th of our economy. Any other way will only hurt the growth in GDP obtained last quarter. If the election results gives pause to the "Blue Dog" Democrats to delay any rash voting on health care reform then American's will win. If Pelosi and Reed are able to shove through legislation that does nothing but grow government, Americans will continue to see unemployment levels north of 10%. Imagine what the unemployment rate would be if companies had not outsourced many back office duties to India, Ireland, and other locales around the world. Take a moment today to call and write your Congress member to voice your opinion and urge them to vote for sustained growth that does not bankrupt America.

Humana Gag Order: Abuse of Power or Warranted?

Humana is under investigation for sending out communication to their Medicare Advantage clients. The Huffington Post obtained a copy of the Humana mailing and can be viewed here: http://big.assets.huffingtonpost.com/humanamailer.pdf. I read the mailing sent by Humana and found nothing outlandish or misrepresentative of the reform being discussed on Capitol Hill but I suggest everyone to read the mailing to judge for themselves. The mailing does warn that "Some in Washington want to cut billions of dollars out of the Medicare Advantage program" and outlines changes that Humana will be forced to make if the cuts take place. Sen. Baucus took exception to Humana's mailer to their clients. "It is wholly inappropriate for insurance companies to mislead seniors regarding any subject – particularly on a subject as important to them, and to the nation, as health-care reform. The health-care reform bill we released last week strengthens Medicare and does not cut benefits covered under the Medicare program – and seniors need to know that," stated Sen. Baucus.

While I agree with Sen. Baucus that no company ought to mislead the public, did Sen. Baucus forget what was written in his bill? The bill calls for $123B in cuts to Medicare Advantage over the next ten years. Instead of recalling this fact Sen. Baucus complained to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The CMS in turn ordered Humana on last Friday to cease and desist because their mailer was "misleading and confusing". Again, I suggest everyone to read it. The kicker is that Humana, and others, have supported ObamaCare with the exception of Advantage cuts and the public option (Wall Street Journal). So, why the gag order Sen. Baucus?

Americans see the warning here? The complaint by Sen. Baucus is a prime example why Government cannot be a participant and referee in any industry. Filing the complaint to the CMS is an abuse of power and a blatant attempt to restrict the communication of what is going on in Congress. The America's Health Insurance Plans, an industry trade group, expressed their outrage to the gag order by saying that proposed cuts "will have a devastating impact on the health security of the more than 10 million seniors enrolled in the program. If these cuts are enacted, seniors will face premium increases, reduced benefits, and, in some parts of the country, will lose access to their Medicare Advantage plan altogether" (www.npr.org). Again, why is the Obama Administration allowing a gag order on information being sent out to those that are impacted?

The Medicare Advantage program receives additional reimbursement rate which cost taxpayers an additional 14% per enrollee (www.courier-journal.com). Now if Sen. Baucus cuts ($123B) or President Obama cuts ($177B) to Medicare Advantage rates takes place the logic step of those provided the insurance option will need to cut back benefits in order to maintain margin expectations. All Humana, as I can tell from reading the mailer, is guilty of is warning their clients of how changes in reimbursement rates will affect their coverage. If Sen. Baucus or President Obama has trouble with that then offer an explanation on how Humana is incorrect in their assessment. Do not sick the CMS on them or others in the insurance industry to place a gag order on them. It is their right to communicate to their clients.

Don't take my assessment as gospel; rather read the mailer (link above) and determine for yourself if Humana violated any laws as to stating any misleading or confusing information. After you read it and make your own assessment call your Senators and Representative to voice your opinion. I wonder how long the CMS will take to determine if laws were violated.