My Problem with the Affordable Care Act

I have lots of issues with the Affordable Care Act (aka ObamaCare), the least of which is it is called 'ObamaCare'.  For the Republican's who want to rid themselves so badly of President Obama, they sure have found a way to tag him with his 'signature domestic piece of legislation' that will live long after he is out of office and on the speaker's circuit.  See I am already off topic...

My main problem is how each side is packaging their product or hate for the product.  The White House's twitter feed is spewing out ACA facts trying to sell us on the many benefits of the act. 

This sounds wonderful.  I am all for women's health and for them staying healthy.  Go get your who-ha checked, complete with a pap test and tack on some birth control annually, please!  While you are there save that ta-tas and get them squeezed with a picture.  But lets not act like these are free.  They are not.  Lets not act like the insurance company is giving them to you for free.  They are not.

Let's be clear: No Business Stays In Business Giving Away Free Services.  Put another way, the economic principle of 'there is no such thing as a free lunch' (TINSTAFL) applies.  Someone has to pay for it.  Someone has to pay the front desk lady who checked you in, the nurse aide who weighted you, the nurse who prepped you, the doctor who saw you, the lab technician who analyzed the pap, the courier who ferried it to and fro, the front office lady who opened the mail with the results, scanned it and filed it, and the office manager to supervise all of this.  Someone has to pay the electric bill to run the machine, the office rent to the lease holder, the debt payment on the machine, and all the supplies and drapes used along the way.  And then, somewhere all of the in between people, and yes the doctor, has to make a profit.

We can argue all day what that profit should or shouldn't be, but the reality is that these people work for profit.  The ugly middle man of all of this is the insurance company.  We can hate them all we want, but the reality is we really do want them.  We want Blue Cross Blue Shield putting us and their other 99 million members together (wiki article here) and power negotiating our cost down with the providers.  (for the record: a study recently concluded insurers only make about 2.2% profit, while the pharmaceutical companies and medical device companies were raking in 20% profits)  We actually need them in this debate to be the balance to a highly dysfunctional three legged stool of patients, providers and insurance companies.

The ACA, at its core, is not a bad piece of legislation.  It aims "to increase the quality and affordability of health insurance, lower the uninsured rate by expanding public and private insurance coverage, and reduce the costs of healthcare for individuals and the government".  It attempts to make health insurance, and by the health care, accessible and affordable across a broader spectrum of our populace.  It attempts to solve huge issues with the current methods deployed by health insurance companies and thereby eliminate many of the major hurdles found by many in lower income brackets.

However, in my opinion, it is trying to solve our health care problem by not attacking the problem.  The act is 381,871 words long.  The result regulations, or rules, on how to implement the act is 11,588,500 words (as of 10/14/13).  As printed by the Government Printing Office, the law is 906 pages long.  That is a lot of words that fail to attack the true issue, in my mind.

What's the problem you ask?  The lack of transparency across the system that allows the free market system to really work.  In my town there are two major hospitals, several critical care and specialty hospitals, and dozens of walk-in clinics.  I have simply no ability to determine if I want to pay the specialty hospital or the county hospital to do my heart bypass.  I can't get that information.

Several times (even now) over the last two years my wife has had simple outpatient procedures.  I literally have to wait for a full month to get the picture of what that procedure cost me.  I have no way to know that upfront to plan or decide if I want to do this procedure now.  I need the doctor, the hospital, the anesthesiologist, the lab, and any other one off bills to come in to understand what the procedure cost.  Did I get a good deal?  Should I have gone to the other hospital?  I can't answer that.  That data simply isn't there, and the hospitals, providers, and ancillary business don't want you to have it.  They make their markup on our ignorance and controlling all pieces of the non-transparent pie.

And frankly, it angers me.  So I say to republicans: You want to rid yourself of 'ObamaCare', fix the real problem and I will vote for the your guy to go and repeal it.  I say to democrats: You want 'ACA' to be the paramount social program of the 'teens', then get on board with a real fix to the system, not a 900+ page patch.

Now off to pay medical bills...seriously...that is next on my to do list.

a "Living on Wheels" update

I was going through our blog and realized that it is silent about a huge purchase of ours...our own fifth wheel RV!  After extensive looking, reviewing, shopping, looking, reviewing, taking notes (get the picture?) Holly and I special ordered a 35 foot Open Range Light 305BHS.  We love our RV.  It has three bunks in the back, an outdoor kitchen, and it is large enough not to be stepping on each other when the mountain rains run us inside.  We took delivery of it in early July 2012 from Pharr RVs in Lubbock.  If you are in the market, look us up.  We will hook you up with a great salesman!

Anyway...so let's catch up on our trips thus far:

1. The "Getting Acquainted" trip: July 13-15, 2012: Brantley Lake State Park; Carlsbad, NM

2. The "Mountain Getaway" trip: July 27-August 4, 2012: San Juan National Forest; Pagosa Springs, CO

3. The "First Solo Trip": October 5-7, 2012: Palo Duro Canyon State Park;Canyon, TX

4. The "Sand Camping" trip: May 24-26, 2013: Monahans Sandhills State Park; Monahans, TX

5. The "Cave" trip: June 14-16, 2013: Carlsbad KOA; Carlsbad, TX (visited Carlsbad Caverns NP)

6. The "Annual Jack Family and Friends Mountain Trip": August 2-10, 2013; San Juan National Forest; Pagosa Springs, CO

7. The "Zay's Birthday and Hotter than Heck" trip: August 30-September 2, 2013;  Palo Duro Canyon State Park;Canyon, TX

8. The "Scrub Brush Camping" trip: October 10-13, 2013; Lake Colorado City State Park, Colorado City, TX

So that catches you up!

Man, we are already making some great memories and learning a lot about this side of the state and eastern New Mexico.  I know everyone says our boys' schedules will keeps us from really using our camper, but I am hoping not.  This time away, even if just to sit around and laugh while they learn to ride bikes, is so refreshing.

Anyone want to go on a weekend trip?  We will meet you there!

 (Better Photos to Come)

Tap...Tap..Tap...This Thing On?

I said I was going to post more, and I haven't.  So very sad.  Before I start again I was wondering if anyone was even still listening.  Anyone here?

Contrasts

Saturday was a day of extreme contrasts.  It started by heading to the local sports store to sign Eli up for tee-ball.  What a crazy thought: a child of mine playing  a sport.  I probably should find an ‘Idiots guide to tee-ball’.  While there the guy asked if we were going to sign Zay up for the four year old league.  So there standing in front of this guy who looks at kids all day was a five and two year old.  He thought my two year old was four.  Contrast #1

We rushed home to push the kids out the door so Holly and I could attend a funeral for a two year old in our church.  He died of brain cancer.  Sitting in a church looking at a casket that is sized to hold the same size age as your own child will rock your world.  Watching a video tribute where you can see your son sit next to a kid that is dead will rock your world.  Contrast #2

After the church ceremony we were waiting on the family to leave.  This family has a seven week old son.  Yes while their son was on chemo and grasping for a miracle, the had another son.  In this sad saga, the family learned of their son’s illness four months before he passed.  Their lives changes through death and birth that quick.  Contrast #3 The odd sound of an infant child crying at the funeral of a two year old is quite an amazing contrast.  Contrast #4

We left the funeral and had about an hour to our self to regain some emotional strength.  We met Holly’s immediate family and her aunt and uncle out for dinner.  In that short time we went from weeping over the loss of a child to seeing pictures of Hawaiian vacations, New York mission trips, and the great joy of listening to grandparent bragging.  Contrast #5

Life, Death, Joy…all in a day of contrasts.

Backwards and Forwards

"Life is understood backwards, but lived forwards." - Unknown

Our vision is to be a family that serves God and is free from as many strings in this world that tie us down and limit our ability to react to his moving.   One of the big ways for that to happen is to be debt free.  If you have been around me long at all you know I have always had a 'pay down debt' plan.  It takes focus and discipline to really be debt free, something Holly and I both lack in the financial realm.  Our 'debt free' goal did not make near the progress it should have in 2012, and in a few ways it went backwards.  But I believe that the last quarter of the year really showed us what debt free can and will do for us.  I sense momentum building, excitement birthing, and discipline sprouting.  I am looking forward to focusing in on our finances in 2013.

Personally, 2012's focus was on 'health and fitness' for me.  With a million genetics not working in my favor, I really need to work on a lifestyle of health and fitness, not just spurts.  And if I am being honest there really have not been any big spurts of it in my life either.  I heard a cadiologist make a statement once that heartattacks that happen in your 50's started with choices made in your 30's.  I am working towards not being apart of that statistic. 

Mostly, I am excited to report that I am considering this 2012 resolution achieved!  Sure my goal was to lose more weight and to be able to run that 5k.  I missed my 'goal' number by a long shot and I can't run 5k either.  But that isn't what is important.  Several major victories were achieved.

1. I joined a gym.  I am super self conscious and never more so than in a gym or in a pool.  I don't know the first thing about free weights and I have to read the instructions on the machines.  The guy next to me on the treadmill is running and I am walking and out of breath.  The idea of a locker room frightens me.  But you know what...it doesn't matter.  That guy running isn't looking at me, and if he is he is probably thinking what I am thinking...at least he is here and not at home eating McDonald's.  They print instructions on those machines for two reasons: legal liability and so you will know how to use them.  And you can come home smelly and avoid the locker room altogether; your wife is just glad you went.

They gym I joined is open 24/7 and has a thirty minute express circuit room.  I got up real early one morning and took my time to read the instructions on what you were suppose to do, read each machine, and figure it all out.  After a week I feel in LOVE with this circuit room.  In a million years if you had told me I would like going to a gym I would have laughed.  I really do enjoy the gym.  I enjoy the days I treadmill and just listen to the news or watch HGTV (they are smart and put it next to ESPN so other guys don't really know which TV I am listening to and watching).  I enjoy the post circuit room feeling of alert and awareness.  I enjoy the hour and a half of alone time (just enough for this 98% extrovert).

Now I am being honest and saying I am currently out of routine at the gym, but starting at 6am in the morning, me and my gym are back at it!

2. I got my diet in focus.  Through a friend I got inspired to try Advocare.  Google it or email me if you want more info.  I have had great results.  In a month I have lost 13 lbs.  Not crazy weight loss, but I am more than happy.  I am a size down in pants.  I have lost inches all over my fat bodied self.  Additionally, I have so much energy, it is amazing.  Besides eating five small meals, I am drinking water. 

Before Thanksgiving if you asked me any given day at bed time how much raw water I had drank, I would have told you 0 ounces.  Since Thanksgiving I have focused on drinking water and I routinely get 40-70 ounces a day of plain water.  Additionally, I gave up all soft drinks and crazy sugar drinks.  After three days of caffeine headaches,  I have had zero cravings for Coke.  Pre change I would easily drink 40-60 ounces of Coke a day; more if we ate out for dinner.  I have maybe had three ounces in the last month and it just tastes weird. 

Like any lifestyle and diet change, it has its challenges.  But I am excited to be out of the holidays and get back into routine of eating well, making smart decisions, drinking my water, and having my small meals.

2013 will be the  year of hitting a goal weight, gaining overall fitness (not just dieting) and having the energy and focus to achieve my personal goals.

****
So there you have it.  In addition the the 'normal' resolutions, I would like to get back to my random blogging.  I love doing it and maybe more people would read and comment if I was more regular with my posting. 

I do hope you achieved some of your 2012 resolutions and I hope you set some great goals for 2013!

35 days remaining

by Justin

There are 35 days remaining to make progress on those New Year's resolutions.  How are yours coming along?  I making a last minute charge.  It is never too late!  Come on now, get yourself in gear, it isn't too late!

A New Year Dawns

By Justin

 A new year is unfolding - like a blossom with petals curled tightly concealing the beauty within. -Unknown

 In my persistence that I am neither a pessimist nor an optimist, rarely do I feel the need to look upon the new year as a time to truly make resolutions or changes.  It is, in fact, just a day on the calendar arbitrarily created to document the completely human need to chronicle time.  Should changes be warranted in your life, why should January 1st be any different than any other day. 

However, this year I have been reading Dave Ramsey's EntreLeadership.  His chapter on dreams, visions, missions and goals has pushed me to rethink my plan.  I am giving 'resolutions' a go this year.

Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. - Benjamin Franklin

So in line with his thinking, Holly and I have started the dialog about making our dreams for our family realities.  Casting a vision and getting specific on what it is going to take to accomplish it.  To look with anticipation forward into what our life can be as a family.  These have big ramifications on the individual dreams and goals for our family as well and just like a good vision greatly affect the individual goals I am setting for myself.  

For last year's words belong to last year's language and next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning. - T.S. Elliot

 I am not going to share my specific goals.  I want the changes that are made to be done out of a genuine desire to see the vision to fruition.  My accountability will be with myself and those individuals around me that I know and trust.  I am excited to see what is just around the bend in the tracks ahead.  A new year dawns...and I am excited.

Pinkwashing

by Justin

I must start by saying this: Breast cancer is a terrible, horrible, no good thing.  Like many of our cancers, it devastates lives and families.  We can and should find a cure.

I must also say that the 'pinkwashing' of October makes me want to puke.  I am sick of everything and the world that stands still and can be sold being in that perfect shade of pink.  In Lubbock, Texas this month you could have attended a "Pink Out" - Texas Tech Volleyball Game, the Komen Race, or the "We Think Pink in Lubbock" event, among others. 

Like everywhere else you can buy pink guns, pink pins, pink purses, pink...pink..pink.  All with a 'portion of the proceeds' going toward the cure.  On facebook I have no less than six friends raising vast amounts of cash for their Komen walks.  Walking is great.  Walking is rewarding.  Walking can accomplish great things and fund great research. 

The Komen for the Cure foundation spent 80.5% of their budget on program expenses last year.  That is actually fairly respectable.  Their revenue was some 312 million dollars.  I am just left wondering if their popularization of pink caused a marketing boom, with little real ramification on donations.

I am aware that not all 'pink events' go to fund Komen.  But by far they are the marketing geniuses behind this crazy.  And frankly, I wish that I didn't have to stare at pink everywhere I turned for an entire month.

Roadside Memorial

By Justin

Please, please do me a favor.  If by some stroke of fate I end up dieing in a tragic roadside accident, please don't erect a memorial in my honor.  I figure I have annoyed enough people in my life than to keep on annoying the guys who have to mow around my memorial long after I depart from earth.

This random thought brought to you by 23 hours alone in a car back and forth between El Paso and Lubbock, twice...

Life on the Road

By Justin

Well I am going on the road for work.  It has been a while, and never with two kids at home.  I am headed to El Paso to lend a hand to my coworkers.  I will be gone for two weeks followed by a week at a conference.  Starting Monday I will spend two nights in my bed in eighteen days.  It will be a challenging time for our family, mostly for Holly.  I will be home on labor day weekend, but we are in Friona for the holiday.  The following weekend I get home on Friday and leave Saturday morning for the conference.  Bad timing all around, but necessary.

I have been surprised at the overall lack of response on the previous posts.  The original post is the number one visited post on our blog in the last year.  More interesting than that is the follow up post.  I can see 'referring site' stats and the site that is the number one referrer is quite interesting.  I won't put that out here for everyone to see, cause it really doesn't matter, but it definitely amuses me that I know people are reading, but not commenting.  Maybe I am underestimating how much people care.

Maybe people just want to see pictures of the kids.  Guess I can make that happen and really leave my ranting to my friends.  They love it...no really they do...wait do I have friends..

hmmmmm  Guess i will give you what you really want.

We’ve Got It Wrong – Part Two

By Justin

If you are just joining me, you should go back and read We’ve Got It Wrong.  It really lays out the foundation of how this has developed.  The second part of my opinion is how the conservative branch of the Christian church is doing far more harm than good in the debate over homosexuality.

I am going to start with this.  I am going to attempt to withhold my closely held beliefs on this topic and instead focus on what I see as a great misunderstanding and injustice being served by the more conservative parts of the Christian denominations.

In being emphatically driven to shout how wrong homosexual relationships are, we have become that which we work our lives not to be: judgmental, unloving hypocrites.  We have decided to let people scream at the top of their lungs the evils of this behavior and preach condemnation from the pulpit. But let’s take a look at our universal example of how we should deal with these issues, Jesus.

Jesus lived in times of active and accepted homosexuality by the roman rulers of the day.  While the Jews did not practice and condemned it, Jesus spoke out on issues of Roman and Jewish natures.  I find it telling that not once in his recorded ministry did Jesus condemn homosexuality.  Now he did reaffirm the biblical concepts of creation and of Adam and Eve’s union, but he stopped short of same sex condemnation. 

Instead Jesus focused on support, love and openness.  He saw sin, confronted it, forgave it and invited the individual to walk with him.  So if we go to the least possible situation, at the most homosexuality could be classified as unrepentant sin.  Jesus confronted this with the women caught in prostitution.  What was his reaction to the crowd that was going to stone this woman?  Let he who has not sinned cast the first stone.  Then him, being the only one able to cast a stone, went to her and forgave her.  Then invited her to go and walk in a new life.

If we were to model our view of homosexuality after this model, how could it be different?  I think we’d be surprised how wrong we have gotten it.

On the other end of the spectrum is that homosexuality isn’t a sin at all.  That God made all people and all things for one and only one purpose to love and cherish him.  We should live our lives honoring and fulfilling that which he created us to do.  If we’d understand that our purpose on this earth has less to do with who someone is in a relationship with and more to do with the condition of their relationship with God, I think this whole mess would be solved.

I think we should all just shut up and love one another.  We should follow the commandments of our Lord and God to love the Lord your God and to Love your Neighbor as yourself.  Our churches are filled with unrepentant sin, if in fact homosexuality is a sin, why do we have to treat it any different?

We’ve Got It Wrong

(Post 350, wow)

By Justin

Sometimes things just get in my craw.  This one has been there for awhile.  And since I have decided that my blog is my own personal vent space, you have been warned.  A few disclosures to start:

This is my opinion, and not that of my wife.  You don’t have to agree, but you have to be respectful in your disagreement.  If you enjoy a healthy discourse, then by all means add a comment and let’s roll!

For the most part, I subscribed to the more conservative Christian theology.  I do not believe everything my denomination preaches and teaches is right, nor important.  But for the most part they have it right on the major things of death, burial and resurrection.  My heart has been heavy, for some time, over the discourse that has long since been brewing over homosexuality and the church.  I believe that we on the right have it all wrong.

There are two main things that bother me.  First is the political environment the second is the stance of the church on this issue.  I plan to tackle these in two separate posts.  First to the politics.

It is true that our founding fathers, for the most part, identified themselves as Christians.  The effects of their Christian values are weaved throughout our founding documents.  But important points have been lost, in my opinion.  The pilgrims left their homelands over religious persecution.  The founding fathers spent years debating the role of a republic form of government to prevent abuses by the majority on a minority.  So concerned were they that a defacto monarchy could rise again, that they went out of their way to prevent the federal government from proclaiming a national religion, among other rights.  Be clear about this, Christian men had an overwhelming majority in the drafting and ratifying the Constitution.  They could have easily formed a ‘Christian Nation’, but they didn’t and went out of their way to prevent it.

So as we evaluate the political issue, let us seek to minimize the influence of religion on this portion of the discourse.  In all honesty, I believe the government should do away with marriage.  The states should simply get out of the marriage license business.  The federal government should do away with married exemptions.  Simply put, let us be a nation of individuals where ‘all men are created’ and treated ‘equal’. 

Now how does this work?  Pretty simple.  If I want to buy a house and I need your income and credit to provide assurance, I will cosign.  Just like my dad did on my first new car.  Should we decided we are not longer ‘partners’ in the house then we will have to settle that amicably or go to the courts to resolve it.  Should I die, then you are contractually required to settle the debt or surrender the asset.  We do what we have been doing for years in contractual law.

Now before you have a heart attack, I’m not saying do away with marriage.  I am saying do away with government sanctioning of marriage.  For I believe that marriage, biblical marriage, has nothing to do with my marriage license.  I couldn’t care less what the state of Texas has given me permission to do.  What is important to me is the covenant vow I made with my Wife and my God in church two weeks after Texas gave me permission to marry.  I say, leave marriage to the vows with God and your spouse and leave the government out of it.

Now I am a realist.  This will never happen.  So back to reality.  Since this isn’t going to happen, then state sponsorship of marriage should be open to whomever wishes to marry.  If you want to enter into a legal contract, also known as a marriage license, so be it.  I don’t care if your gender is the same or not.  If something goes wrong then go dissolve your legal agreement in court, regardless of your gender.  I simply care not and honestly believe that our government shouldn’t either.

In the same vein, legal contracts (marriage licenses) should be treated fairly and equitably by all parties.  I’m not forcing you to go ‘against my religion’ for our Christian beliefs teach at length about justice.  See it as an ‘opportunity’ to love your neighbor. 

But let us also be clear that the separation of church and state is a two way street.  The government should not interfere with the practice of my religion, short of the protection of the weak, sick and young.  The government (state or federal) should not require my church to perform, recognize or even support same gender legal contracts should my church decided it is ‘against our religion’.  In fact, I’d argue that the Constitution protects our right for us to be the largest, loudest bigots on the face of the planet, should we so choose (westboro church, anyone?). 

I’d also admit this is a slippery slope.  If this goes to the extreme, then I can craft a ‘religion’ to allow or disallow anything.  Polygamy could be deemed to be legal and the government really not have a right to prevent it, unless it can show cause of harm.  ‘Child Brides’ and other controversial practices could become ‘acceptable religious practices’.  I am going to opt not to be crazy extreme about this.  I am sure FoxNews and MSNBC will do this for us. 

So I will close on this: Government: get out of the business of marriage and if you decide you can’t, the let’s get it all equal.  It is the least we can do. 

The End Before the Beginning

By Justin

Every good Presidential candidate hopes their vision of the future catches fire and propels them to greatness.  Some write books.  Some spend all their time in New Hampshire.  Some just have the right last name.  Sadly, these things never occurred.

So I am withdrawing from my fake presidential run.  It seems, like Newt, I failed to 'ignite the base' or 'reach for the middle'.  Now some will say that Energy and National Defense weren't really the best topics to start with, if debate and fire is what I sought.  They might be right, but in my political world if you can't get fired up over a good "clean coal" debate, then we really shouldn't discuss civil rights and the role of faith in society.  

So go back to CNN and listen to the hours and hours of nonsense and talking heads who have neither the ability to affect change nor the real answer, just a hypothetical of what might occur should something else occur in Congress.  

And for the record: in the short term the end of the world and the value of the American dollar will NOT disappear on August 2, should we have a fictitious 'default' on our debt.  Besides August 2nd was an estimate made by a political appointee, the Treasury Secretary.  And the same department gets to decide if we don't pay our debt or don't pay our electric bills or don't pay Congress.  So saying we default on our debt is saying it is our only payment due, which we all can attest, is not the case.  So lets stop the nonstop stupidity on CNN, pick a few things we shouldn't be paying for anyway...and get a deal done that really does put the good ole USA in better hands going forward.

Platform Discussion: Energy Policy

- 89% of USA energy consumption is from non-renewable sources (DOE)

- 41% of consumption is by residential users, 30% industrial, 29% transportation (DOE)

- The USA is the number one energy consumer in the world using 21%, China is next at 16% then Russia at 6%

It is easy and trendy to talk about energy policy when gas is $4 a gallon and we are fighting a war with the an oil exporter.  It is less so when gas is $2 and CNN's lead story is Justin Bieber.  The reality is there is not a single quick solution to the issue.  Just like most major issues it is going to take decisive decision-making to free our self in the future. So a few planks to the platform.

1. Expand the use of nuclear power.  Nuclear power made up only 11% of production in 2010 behind Coal, Oil and Gas.  It is safe and unmatched with regard to output vs. impact vs. left overs.  Yes the waste will outlive our kid's, kid's, kids.  But this waste pales in comparison to the gains made by the zero carbon footprint.  

I do not believe in clean coal.  I believe domestic natural gas and oil discovery has reached its peak.  I know the mining industry supports an entire section of our grand union's economy; however, we must work to lesson our dependence not just on 'foreign oil' but on all forms of nonrenewable energy.  While nuclear is nonrenewable, it is long term sustainable.

2. Invest in renewable energies.  Wind, wave and solar technologies need substantial government based investments to refine and make plausible in the near term future.  We should redirect some of the governments research in the sexual habits of men in Russia and Appalachian fruits towards solving the issues on generation, storage and delivery of these renewable energies.  It is easy to say that the government should get out of the way and let the private industry take the lead; however, the major players in the private industry have invested trillions of dollars into oil and gas exploration, delivery and refinement systems.  There is no motivation to advance renewable energies at an accelerated pace. 

3. Increase the gas tax by 25¢.  This money should be directed to help offset the startup costs of new nuclear power plants and the investments in research.  Easy as that.  A new agency should NOT be created to manage this money.  Throw it in with the Department of Energy grants and the oversight already created therein. 

4. We should carefully exploit domestic energy reserves.  We should be prepared for the possibilities that a 'friend' in the middle east is no longer a friend.  While they need us to purchase their oil to fund their regimes, it can get into difficult politics should they decide to no longer sell us their oil.  During this interim period of building nuclear plants and increase in research, we should complete careful exploration of domestic off shore drilling, Alaskan drilling, gas reserve locating and drilling in addition to continue refinement of the coal burning processes.  Additional consideration should be taken to determine the stock piling of these precious limited resources for use or sale in the long-term future (100+ years) could provide our nation with a strategic advantage.  As the amount of available resources diminished, the one holding the most reserves will be the one holding the trump card.  We, as a nation, do not want to be on the wrong end of that equation.  

A well rounded energy policy with clear direction is lacking in the nation.  With each change of President and/or party holding the office a new set of thoughts comes into being.  The result has been a policy toss around like a dingy in the ocean.  A clear, defined and well funded energy policy is a must.

Platform Discussion: National Defense

By Justin

The concept of national defense is tricky.  There is the notion of 'homeland defense' and the traditional concept of 'defending freedom'.  For this posting, we will tackle the traditional defending freedom.  I think we should start with a few facts.  As best that can be determined with little true research I turned to wikipedia.  The USA spent 687 billion dollars in 2010 in 'military expenditures'.  China is the next closes in expenditures at 114 billion.

So for 2010, the USA spent 6 times as much as the next 'superpower' in the world.  In fact, it takes the top 20 countries in the world to equal the spending by the USA on 'military expenditures'.  The fact is that the true cost of national defense is much, much higher.  If you add in defense organizations such as the FBI, veteran affairs, portions of the State Department, etc.  You easily get to a trillion dollars.

So the question of national defense is well warranted. So the Platform...

1. The Members of the Armed Forces deserve our admiration, respect and unwavering support.  The line from a Few Good Men by Jack Nicholson is so very true: 

"We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way"

It is easy for us to sit in our homes and complain about defense spending, conflicts and wars.  While worthwhile discussions and rightfully apart of the conversation, we must not forget the individuals who are carrying out their duties.  Spending on veterans should be examined, refined and reviewed. The Veterans Administration should be reviewed from top to bottom.  The methodologies and support functions for our veterans should be modern and cutting edge whether that be GI Bills, home loans or medical care.

2. The United States should continue to be a recognized international force for stabilizing otherwise unstable situations.  It is easy to say our role should not be a police force.  But saying so is like saying that homeless person should just get a job.  It isn't that easy.  An international force to address and respond to crisis is necessary and the reality is our country has the wealth and influence to be that nation.  It should be done with care, openness and always with the interests of the oppressed in mind.

3. The Armed Forces should be equipped to fight the newest threats with the more advanced technologies.  Evaluation of the methodologies of training and types of equipment should reflect the threats we face.  While all threats cannot be known, preparing for Icelandic space war should not top our spending priorities.

4. The monitoring, control, and (where needed) prevention of the spread of nuclear weapons is essential to domestic and international security.  I realize it is easy to sit behind our nuclear arsenal and say you can't have one.  I realize we are the only country in the history of time to use a nuclear weapon in an act of war.  However, I believe our values as a people would not stand for us to be 'rouge' in another use of a nuclear weapon.  Using our arsenal as an international veil of protection is warranted.  Preventing rogue nations, tribes or groups from acquiring nuclear weapons should be mission one.

Overall Discussion:  The talking of national defense could go on forever.  The truth is the 687 billion dollars is a major driver of the USA economy.  I am not a proponent of cutting defense spending, however, ensuring the spending is addressing current threats, preventing the spread of nuclear weapons, deployed in ways to assist those living under repressive regimes and ultimately providing the very best for the Men and Women in and out of uniform is key.  

If I was President, that 687 billion would be evaluated and some priorities would be shifted favoring Veteran spending, modernization and nuclear threats.

Current theaters of war, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya need to be evaluated.  I am not going to evoke President G.W. Bush's saying of 'Generals in the field will determine troop levels', but I will say that I have no vested trust that the Congress of the United States has the ability to not play politics with the US Military.  To that end, the Joints Chiefs of Staff should be advising the President on the ends that meet the means.  I will say I am confused on what exactly our ends, means or goals are in Libya.  So in effect I am 'punting' on the current theater questions.  Take that CNN!

I'm running for President

By Justin

I love politics.  I love talking politics.  I love debating politics.  Holly could care less.  Holly would probably have hard time knowing who the Vice President is.  That's okay.  It is what makes our relationship tick!  I hate that the 2012 campaign has already started.  I think we should seriously consider a law that says you can't touchdown in Iowa before six months prior to the primaries.  If you do, do not pass go, do not become president.

I will never run for political office.  At least I don't think I will.  So in the spirit of the current times I pleased to announce that I am running for President.  Now I am aware that I do not meet the qualifications under article two of the Constitution.  A minor detail.  In reality I just plan to launch a few blog posts over the next few weeks that tackle the major issues facing the candidates and our country.  I plan to post my views and maybe, just maybe, spur a little talking on the blog.  

Now we won't agree.  And respect will rule the day.  If you want to be disrespectful, go run to be a Senator.  This is a Presidential debate, and we will conduct our self accordingly.  I also want to start with this: "THESE VIEWS ARE MY OWN.  I do not speak for my wife."  Often times we disagree over major themes.  Also please do not try to box me into a political party, religious dogmatic theology, or even a regional belief system.  It won't work.  I also will not discuss the current President or GOP field of candidates.  This is intended to be lighthearted and fun while really helping me think through the issues.

So come along for the ride.  First 'Platform Discussion' is national defense.

Statistics

By Justin

I can't stand it when a statistic is used to inflate a problem. Instead of framing a problem or issue in 'real terms' we use a statistic to make it seem oh so much better or worse. No other place is this more apparant than in journalism. They have crazy important deadlines and the pressure to make a story must be enormous. Do you need an example?

Well lets start with this story from KCBD Newchannel 11 here in Lubbock. To see the full article go here. It is a story about OSHA warning employers and employees about the crazy hot heat and heat stroke. In that story they make the following statement:

"Last year nationwide more than 1,790 people became seriously ill from heat and more than 30 died."

This statement get me worked up, bad. First off "more than 30 people". Is that 31 or 3,890,903 people? You have a fairly exact number at 1,790, but not in the death number? Where did this number come from? Did KCBD research it, steal it from the 'heat death index' website, what? Does KCBD make it a habit to keep track of deaths nationwide caused by heat?

But more than the lack of sourse, the really irking thing to me is the use of a number to make this story important. Before we go any farther please know that I understand that heat related deaths and illness are 100% preventable. But what this bigger to me is if you put this number in context of the scope this article discusses, then a problem really doesn't exist. If the problem doesn't exist, then there is no need for this story. If there is no need for the story, then what is the ultimate need for the new organization as a whole. Lets break it down.

USA population: 308 million Source: US Census
USA working population: 121 milllion in 2008 (non farm) Source: US Census

So the percentage of working population affected by heat illness is:
(1,790 divded by 121 million *100) = .0014793%

So the percentage of deaths in the working populations is:
(30 divided by 121 million *100) = .000024793%

I see an epidemic on our hands...

More than anything I can't handle unnecessary exageration. This story loses nothing if it focuses on the real risks and concerns, the searing heat. So take heed cause 1 in 10 of my blog readers agrees with me.

Driving 101

By Justin
I know you are a bad driver when any of the following occur:
- You accelerate from the stoplight, and your brake lights are still illuminated.
 

- You hit your brakes and come to a complete stop to enter the center left turn lane.
 

- Your two year old is bouncing on the back seat of your car. 
 

- You are on the inside of a two lane left turn and you aren't even smart enough to follow the 'idiot lines' helping you know which lane to go into.
 

- You drive a sports car but can't beat the school bus off the line at the red light.
 

- The time you require for a break in traffic to execute a turn can be calculated using an egg timer.
 

- You wait until you can see my car over the top of the hill to turn off your bright lights.
 

- You ride with your bright lights on even on a divided highway with on coming traffic.
 

- You see the big flashing arrow instructing you to merge and get mad when I don't let you.
 

All of these items and more cause me to deduct IQ points from you on a scale directly proportional to my annoyance at the moment.  Happy Defensive Driving All!

Ode to Angela

by Justin

You probably dont know her. If you do, you are probably blog stalking...

If you have a chance to meet her you should.

In my life I have probably spent a sum total of one hour in her presence. I wish it could be more.

Angela makes people happy, just being in her presence. She is contagious that way.

She makes Holly's work days better, just being an IM chat away.

She chose to be a USA citizen and now knows more about the USA than 99% of all native-born Americans.

She is really a Canadian at heart, EH!

She loves pink and pink ribbons. It is a good thing, but a sad thing all at the same time.

Her mom and grandmother both lost thier battles with breast cancer. Angela is an amazingly strong woman because of it, even if she doesn't know it.

She walks the Komen 3-day for the Cure in their honor. You should support her here.

Mostly she likes crazy cat pictures and jokes.

Here is to you, Angela. An Ode to You, from West Texas...

Everyone Graduates!

By Justin

Kindergarten graduations...When did this become a standard of our society?  I didn't graduate from kindergarten.  In fact I only went half a day.  Maybe I need to start over.  But honestly Kindergarten graduations make no sense to me.  What did you accomplish?  You completed a year of school that isn't required (in Texas).  Who came up with this?  And now we have robes and ceremonies and cookies and punch.  Oh and pictures.  Don't forget the pictures.  

I have also heard of middle school graduation.  Seriously?  This is getting even more crazy.  What are you celebrating?  Congratulations you still have five or six more years to go.  Oh and you get to 'graduate' to Junior High where bullying and puberty will be oh so much fun.  

High School graduation is odd enough.  Whew you are done, but if you are smart you really aren't done.  So live it up for a night, cause in about three months you start at the bottom of the pool again.  And to show our immense intelligence on this day, what do we do?  Throw our hats with four pointy objects into the air.  Guess we didn't listen in Science class.  What goes up, must come down (eventually approaching terminal velocity). 

College graduation.  Now that is a reason to celebrate.  You are done with your formal education.  You get to join the work force and pay for the baby boomers to retire and have health care.  You are a 'contributing member of society'.  Now go forth and conquer.  But please don't conquer too fast, I don't need some young go getter to take my job.