I'm still trying to make sense of yesterday's Supreme Court ruling on Obamacare. According to the chief justice, what makes this law constitutional is the fact that the mandate is a tax. How can that be? The president, himself, said that this was not a tax and he's always been straight with us. Hasn't he?
So, the mandate is a tax. Will middle class people making under $250,000 a year who choose not to have insurance pay a tax. Won't this increase taxes on the middle class? I thought the middle class wouldn't see their taxes increase. Even if they have insurance, their taxes will increase in the form of small "nuisance" taxes like the tax on tanning beds, the tax on over the counter medicines, etc. I guess the Affordable Care Act (the real name of Obamacare) isn't so affordable after all.
Obama has a problem. In order for his Affordable Care Act to be deemed constitutional, taxes have to be raised on everyone, even those making under $250,000. If he accepts this ruling, he breaks his campaign promise regarding taxes, if he doesn't then the last 2 1/2 years have been wasted.
How's that working out for all you Obama supporters out there?
Friday, June 29, 2012
Thursday, June 28, 2012
The War on Fat
I recently heard about a man who lost custody of his two young sons because in the eyes of the judge, he was too fat to be a good parent. In the past year, this man had lost 150 pounds and now weighs 360 pounds. That is fat, but he is in the process of losing weight. Instead of letting this father have his children while he loses more weight, they will be put up for adoption. The mother isn't in the picture.
Every day we hear about another assault on the overweight or obese. I actually heard one commentator who was discussing possible vice presidential candidates say that Governor Christie is not fit to be vice president because he's too fat. That was the only reason. I don't want him to run for vice president, because I want him to stay in New Jersey where he's doing a great job.
Mayor Bloomberg of New York City is trying to ban the sale of sweetened drinks that are larger than 16 oz. That's the latest thing he has tried to ban. Previously he has come out against too much salt, trans fats, etc. But, he wants to eliminate the criminality of carrying a small amount of marijuana.
Schools have stopped having fundraising cake sales while at the same time there are vending machines that have sweetened snacks.
What will they ban next? Whole milk? Beef?
I hope the War on Fat will be as successful as the War on Drugs.
Every day we hear about another assault on the overweight or obese. I actually heard one commentator who was discussing possible vice presidential candidates say that Governor Christie is not fit to be vice president because he's too fat. That was the only reason. I don't want him to run for vice president, because I want him to stay in New Jersey where he's doing a great job.
Mayor Bloomberg of New York City is trying to ban the sale of sweetened drinks that are larger than 16 oz. That's the latest thing he has tried to ban. Previously he has come out against too much salt, trans fats, etc. But, he wants to eliminate the criminality of carrying a small amount of marijuana.
Schools have stopped having fundraising cake sales while at the same time there are vending machines that have sweetened snacks.
What will they ban next? Whole milk? Beef?
I hope the War on Fat will be as successful as the War on Drugs.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
A Day of Surprises
Today I took the QVC Studio Tour with a friend from my community and two of her friends. It was a fun day.
At lunch, we started talking about jobs and I mentioned that my company had been taken over by CNA. That rang a bell with one of the women. She said that I must have worked for Continental. I said yes in the reinsurance department. It seems that her husband also worked for Continental and also in reinsurance. The name was familiar, but I couldn't place him.
Later on, we were talking about the neighborhoods where we grew up. We grew up just miles apart. That might not sound too strange, but we both live in New Jersey now and grew up in Queens New York.
After the tour, we went to the QVC Outlet Store, which I never knew they had. While I was looking around, I saw a pair of winter white slacks which I have been looking for. There was only one pair and it was in my size. Of course I grabbed it up. The price tag said $38.79 or something like that. When I was at the register, the woman gave me the price and it sounded like $8.59. I just thought I misheard her until I checked my receipt. I was shocked. The pants were 75% off and the final price was $8.59. What a bargain! That just made my day.
It was a wonderful day - good friends, new friends and a bargain. You couldn't ask for anything more.
At lunch, we started talking about jobs and I mentioned that my company had been taken over by CNA. That rang a bell with one of the women. She said that I must have worked for Continental. I said yes in the reinsurance department. It seems that her husband also worked for Continental and also in reinsurance. The name was familiar, but I couldn't place him.
Later on, we were talking about the neighborhoods where we grew up. We grew up just miles apart. That might not sound too strange, but we both live in New Jersey now and grew up in Queens New York.
After the tour, we went to the QVC Outlet Store, which I never knew they had. While I was looking around, I saw a pair of winter white slacks which I have been looking for. There was only one pair and it was in my size. Of course I grabbed it up. The price tag said $38.79 or something like that. When I was at the register, the woman gave me the price and it sounded like $8.59. I just thought I misheard her until I checked my receipt. I was shocked. The pants were 75% off and the final price was $8.59. What a bargain! That just made my day.
It was a wonderful day - good friends, new friends and a bargain. You couldn't ask for anything more.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Self Control & Baking
I'm so proud of myself.
I love to bake. There's nothing better than taking those ingredients, mixing them together then putting them into the oven and after about 1/2 hour or so smelling the delicious cake or cookie that you've made.
Today I had an craving for brownies. I cheated and used a mix and added chocolate chips. They were wonderful. Now here's why I'm so proud.
Usually when I bake, I take small pieces whenever I pass by the kitchen. Before I know it, the cake or whatever is gone and I've eaten it all, probably in a day or two. Tonight, after I had two brownies, I packed them in small plastic bags, two to a bag. Then I did a really mature thing. I put them in the freezer.
Now I have brownies whenever I want and I can't overdo it. It's the grown-up thing to do.
I love to bake. There's nothing better than taking those ingredients, mixing them together then putting them into the oven and after about 1/2 hour or so smelling the delicious cake or cookie that you've made.
Today I had an craving for brownies. I cheated and used a mix and added chocolate chips. They were wonderful. Now here's why I'm so proud.
Usually when I bake, I take small pieces whenever I pass by the kitchen. Before I know it, the cake or whatever is gone and I've eaten it all, probably in a day or two. Tonight, after I had two brownies, I packed them in small plastic bags, two to a bag. Then I did a really mature thing. I put them in the freezer.
Now I have brownies whenever I want and I can't overdo it. It's the grown-up thing to do.
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