George Offerman
This past year has been very interesting and challenging personally as well as nationally. Where we are heading will be determined by what we are currently doing (or not doing). So, I will look at some of the news making events, and take a gander into seeing what may lie ahead for us in the next year.
We had the most pro death president in the history of our country take office in January, with a great deal of optimism and fanfare by the majority. Obama has turned out to be extremely two faced and is quite the opposite of what he promised (except for child killing). This surprised the majority, who continued on in their deluded state believing ‘everything will be alright’.
Obama then is invited to Notre Dame to receive an honorary law degree and give the commencement speech to the graduates. This event is largely ignored by both the church, and mainstream pro life groups, and then when challenged by Randall Terry, then others, both the church and mainstream pro life groups ignored/criticized/condemned this effort. Obama successfully took on the “biggest kid on the block” and in essence divided and conquered the Catholic Church splitting in nearly down the middle (similar to the vote tally 54% voting for Obama).
Then the Kennedy funeral in which 2 prelates decided to preside at, and allow pro aborts to receive communion in direct violation of Cannon 915. Retired Cardinal McCarrick then presided at the gravesite ceremony, and at no time, was Kennedy’s voting record, or his strong anti Catholic stances questioned or challenged by these leaders.
Sotomayor, a woman of very questionable abilities and qualifications, is nominated, and then elevated to the Supreme Court, with very little resistance from the mainstream pro life groups, and nary a word from the Catholic Church, due mainly to her heritage, and not wanting to come across as ‘bigoted’, thus selling out faith for convenience.
Finally, healthcare emerged as a charged issue, and this had been in the making for sometime, but not dealt with by the reactionary Christian Churches and the mainstream pro life groups. The same people who stayed quiet throughout the Obama candidacy and subsequent election to president, now decided to act, and utilized feeble and half hearted measures to make it look like they wanted it stopped. These same groups then demonized Senator Nelson, and want to make it ‘his fault’ that this measure passed the Senate. Neither of these two groups has done much soul searching amongst themselves to see that standing up for the faith in its truest form and uncompromising, would have killed all of the above right in its tracks.
For legalized child killing to REALLY END, there has to be genuine fear by the elected officials of a strong, informed and accountable driven electorate. The electorate needs to have good formation and representation by lay leaders in developing a strong grassroots organization, and the lay leaders in these organizations need to be inspired by none other than saints and leaders and pastors from the Christian Churches, who put leather into their faith walk, and not just talk a good game. Without these in the proper order, our efforts will fail.
2009 has proven how far away we are in this fight, and 2010 needs to be the year we begin to turn this around. It has to start with the churches, and it ultimately may mean leaving them, defunding them, protesting them, or just a good old fashioned revival excluding them. Either way, there is a God in Heaven, who is watching, who is actively involved, who does keep perfect scores, who does not tolerate injustices, and will break into history when his representatives on earth (His Church) fails to act, or is in outright rebellion to His will.
If the Church is ambivalent about its own teachings and missions, then those that come from it (those that make up most of the pro life groups) will reflect the same ambivalence and same ‘moderation’ and mish mash teachings, which then make its way to the electorate, and eventually to the elected officials, who believe ‘we can do what we want, without repercussions”. The church of the lukewarm is the mainstream church, and it trickles down to all areas of our society. This condition will not last forever, and we are running out of time.
2010 has to be the year that we do house cleaning in the legislature, but more importantly, we need to clean our own houses. It is a painful process, but the consequences will be way more painful if not done. The storm clouds are nearing, the wind is blowing, the lightening can be seen, and there is thunder in the distance. Do we want to continue pretending all is right, do little to nothing, and believe things will straighten out on their own? Or do we want to become the saints that our Living God calls us to be?
Showing posts with label Senator Nelson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Senator Nelson. Show all posts
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
DEEP BUDGET CUTS (BUT NOT FOR GOVERNMENT)
George Offerman
I dropped my car off for repairs, and while waiting for the loaner car, had an opportunity to watch the news for about 20 minutes. The Fox network was on, and they were interviewing a Cardiologist who was suing the Obama administration over Medicare cuts that will take effect on January 1 2010. This cardiologist reported that the cuts are in the range of 40%, yes, 40%. This cardiologist then went on to say how many of her colleagues are going to go out of business, will have to lay off thousands of support staff, and in effect, ration care by limiting, or eliminating outpatient services. This cardiologist went on to discuss how most of the doctors will have to become employees of hospitals, where the care is 3-4 times more expensive than outpatient office visits. The ‘unintended consequences’ of these cuts will in effect, run most of the private practitioners out of business, reduce the availability of advanced screenings, such as nuclear medicine, reduce the pool of talented doctors, by attrition, and send medicine back to the ‘sickness’ model (treat the problem once it appears), versus the wellness model (preventative care).
Now, how can one realistically believe that anyone can take a 40% hit on their budgets and stay viable? Only idiots that work in a Mid Atlantic City, who don’t know what they are doing, but believe they know better than those in the field, want to dictate how everyone else has to live, and BTW have NO BUSINESS BACKGROUND. I know for a fact, as everyone else does, that these same idiots would never cut their budget even 4%, yet 40%. They scream and yell if the budget does not go up by nearly 10% a year, and they promise each other a goodie basket if they vote certain ways to pass laws that cost way more than private services, and spend money no one has. Has it dawned on these idiots that the parasites (them, the elected officials) are killing the host (us, the taxpayer)?
Immediately after this story, the topic of tax increases came up, and the commentator mentioned that for the ‘first time ever’ the Democrats were thinking about a national sales tax. The caveat of course, was not eliminating income tax for a national sales tax, but incorporating this new tax on top of the income tax. This is already on top of the Bush tax cuts that are set to expire in 2010, and will effectively add at least 10% increase in income taxes for those who pay taxes. Obviously, the government ‘cannot’ live without their (our) money, but it is perfectly acceptable to cut those ‘evil’ physicians fees by 40%. No one who is remotely awake is fooled by any of this gamesmanship, and these politicians are placating the ‘something for nothing’ group on the backs of those who are actually producing real goods and services.
I had to leave the waiting area, as I found my blood pressure rising to very unhealthy levels. As I drove home, I could not help but notice the flashing sign put on the local toll road reminding all of us schleps that the tolls are going up by … 40% this January 1, 2010! This is on top of the 19% increase on my property taxes, and whatever increase in the payroll taxes once the Bush tax cuts have expired. (This is not even including the much underreported inflation rate of such unimportant and unnecessary things like … food, shelter, transportation) I got a 2.5% pay increase for this year, and by doing simple math (not learned in the public school systems), I will be further in the hole at the end of next year than I am now. Unlike the government, I am dealing with a real budget shortfall, and unlike the government, I can’t print my way out of it, or write bad checks to cover it. I have to deal with a real budget cut, and if I spend more than I have, and try to steal it from others like the government does, I would end up in jail.
It would actually be refreshing if the government did what all Americans are forced to do: live within their budgets, and learn to cut where there is waste. This would require politicians that are honest, and have the ability and gumption to say no to the insanity. Given insanity is the norm for Washington, D.C, the current crop of elected officials feels right at home.
Quick comment on Sen. Ben Nelson’s ‘slide’ in the polls. The election for his seat is 3 years out. Let’s see how he looks then. Also, why aren’t there 59 other Democrats with the same low numbers????
I dropped my car off for repairs, and while waiting for the loaner car, had an opportunity to watch the news for about 20 minutes. The Fox network was on, and they were interviewing a Cardiologist who was suing the Obama administration over Medicare cuts that will take effect on January 1 2010. This cardiologist reported that the cuts are in the range of 40%, yes, 40%. This cardiologist then went on to say how many of her colleagues are going to go out of business, will have to lay off thousands of support staff, and in effect, ration care by limiting, or eliminating outpatient services. This cardiologist went on to discuss how most of the doctors will have to become employees of hospitals, where the care is 3-4 times more expensive than outpatient office visits. The ‘unintended consequences’ of these cuts will in effect, run most of the private practitioners out of business, reduce the availability of advanced screenings, such as nuclear medicine, reduce the pool of talented doctors, by attrition, and send medicine back to the ‘sickness’ model (treat the problem once it appears), versus the wellness model (preventative care).
Now, how can one realistically believe that anyone can take a 40% hit on their budgets and stay viable? Only idiots that work in a Mid Atlantic City, who don’t know what they are doing, but believe they know better than those in the field, want to dictate how everyone else has to live, and BTW have NO BUSINESS BACKGROUND. I know for a fact, as everyone else does, that these same idiots would never cut their budget even 4%, yet 40%. They scream and yell if the budget does not go up by nearly 10% a year, and they promise each other a goodie basket if they vote certain ways to pass laws that cost way more than private services, and spend money no one has. Has it dawned on these idiots that the parasites (them, the elected officials) are killing the host (us, the taxpayer)?
Immediately after this story, the topic of tax increases came up, and the commentator mentioned that for the ‘first time ever’ the Democrats were thinking about a national sales tax. The caveat of course, was not eliminating income tax for a national sales tax, but incorporating this new tax on top of the income tax. This is already on top of the Bush tax cuts that are set to expire in 2010, and will effectively add at least 10% increase in income taxes for those who pay taxes. Obviously, the government ‘cannot’ live without their (our) money, but it is perfectly acceptable to cut those ‘evil’ physicians fees by 40%. No one who is remotely awake is fooled by any of this gamesmanship, and these politicians are placating the ‘something for nothing’ group on the backs of those who are actually producing real goods and services.
I had to leave the waiting area, as I found my blood pressure rising to very unhealthy levels. As I drove home, I could not help but notice the flashing sign put on the local toll road reminding all of us schleps that the tolls are going up by … 40% this January 1, 2010! This is on top of the 19% increase on my property taxes, and whatever increase in the payroll taxes once the Bush tax cuts have expired. (This is not even including the much underreported inflation rate of such unimportant and unnecessary things like … food, shelter, transportation) I got a 2.5% pay increase for this year, and by doing simple math (not learned in the public school systems), I will be further in the hole at the end of next year than I am now. Unlike the government, I am dealing with a real budget shortfall, and unlike the government, I can’t print my way out of it, or write bad checks to cover it. I have to deal with a real budget cut, and if I spend more than I have, and try to steal it from others like the government does, I would end up in jail.
It would actually be refreshing if the government did what all Americans are forced to do: live within their budgets, and learn to cut where there is waste. This would require politicians that are honest, and have the ability and gumption to say no to the insanity. Given insanity is the norm for Washington, D.C, the current crop of elected officials feels right at home.
Quick comment on Sen. Ben Nelson’s ‘slide’ in the polls. The election for his seat is 3 years out. Let’s see how he looks then. Also, why aren’t there 59 other Democrats with the same low numbers????
Monday, December 21, 2009
HAPPY HOLIDAYS (MERRY CHRISTMAS) FROM OUR GOVERNMENT
George Offerman
Isn’t it wonderful or ironic that our government will be delivering to us in the season celebrating the birth of our savior, one of the most despicable pieces of legislation in the history of our country. Sure, everyone can look at Sen. Ben Nelson, and accuse him of being a sell out to the pro life movement and his own supposed ‘pro life’ stance. We can also look at many of the Senators and declare them rightfully so as sellouts to the cause. As we look at this debacle, and begin to live it, there will be plenty of blame to go around.
Who is it that will ultimately be held accountable for this anti God, anti children, anti life and anti good quality health care? Well, there is plenty to go around, and it ought to be a sobering moment for us to contemplate this. What an insult to God, that our government is choosing the Christmas season to pass this, and they have made it clear from Obama on down, to get this done before the ‘Holiday recess”. Demonic, in deed.
One needs to go no further than our elected officials to see the end results. These men and women have been elected to represent our interests, and to a certain extent, they have done this. The issue has always been that most of these elected officials vote for a bill that riles the base, but come the next election, it is long forgotten, and they end up back in office. Hence, these officials have very little to fear by going along with a very vocal minority that happens to be extremely liberal, and may I say, demonically lead. These officials make a mockery of the faith they claim to follow, and want to ‘separate’ their claimed faith from reality, such as Sen. Casey in Pennsylvania, Sen. Lindsay Graham in South Carolina, The Kennedy clan, Kerry, etc. There is little fear of repercussions for these elected officials, and they continue to propagate relativistic and liberal agendas.
The electorate also carries a great deal of the weight as well. Most elections consist of maybe 50% bothering to even vote, and the majority coming into vote, have not put much effort into learning about the candidates (I have volunteered to canvas, and work the polls for the past several elections) and it is dismaying that little preparation goes into this process. There is more attention paid to “Survivor” than to those elected officials who have the ability and desire to change and regulate our lives. Many go into vote very robot like, and pull the lever for the name they recognize. It seems we as a nation, are in the grips of mass attention deficit disorder, due to the fact most seem to have no memory of the garbage that is called law that is legislated by this government, and the electorate does not hold the politicians accountable for it.
As bad as this is, the larger blame lies with the mainstream, so called ‘conservative groups’ such as most of the pro life groups. The mainstream pro life groups want to feed other pro lifers pabulum, and encourage such things as ‘virtual’ protests, constant education programs, giving speeches in churches where there are no challenges, endless committees that do little but cosmetic efforts. When protests of substance occur, which challenge the status quo. and make national and international news; they are the first to condemn this with harsher language than is used on the true enemy. Mainly though, the pro life groups ignore the efforts of these individuals, while the enemy and ‘godless’ mainstream press cover them. The mainstream pro life movement wants to get along with the enemy, and try to persuade them to change. They were unable to recognize the points of the fight, including the candidacy and election of Obama, Obama’s invitation to receive and honorary degree and speak at Notre Dame, and the Sotomayor hearings and subsequent elevation to the Supreme Court. Now they act surprised at the proposed health care reform paying for child killing, and did not see this coming. Fighting this war is brutal, and most are not up to the challenge, but what is worse, is they don’t’ know how to support those that are willing to ‘take the bullets’ and get the job done.
However, the group or entity that ultimately will be held accountable is the Church. I am speaking of the whole Christian Church in general and the Catholic Church in particular. Leadership has been abysmal in most cases, and conspiratorial in some. The Bishops did little concerning the candidacy and election of Obama despite the fact he is the most pro death candidate ever, and some actually praised him for his ‘accomplishments’. 2 prelates found it more important to look good at Sen. Kennedy’s funeral, rather than stand up and use this opportunity to teach and take a stand for life. Bishop Loverde of Arlington, Virginia, and Arch Bishop Wuerl of Washington D.C. have the opportunity to with hold communion from the child killing Senators, but refuse to follow the clear mandates of Cannon 915. Will they do it? The Bishop’s silence (with a few exceptions) has been interpreted by politician and lay person alike as implicit permission to determine for themselves what teachings to follow and what to let go of. Why bother to teach at all if all have the right to determine right from wrong on their own, or based on their feelings? Dereliction of duty.
There is no excuse for the legislation that is ready to pass and most likely oppress us for the rest of our lives. We have no one else to blame but ourselves for this, and we are ready to embark on a journey that will take us farther than we wanted and to places we don’t want to go. The longer we let this go, the bloodier the outcome, but be sure: we will pay the bill, and it is very large.
Support those out there who are challenging the status quo, the church and the elected officials. If you want to know who I’m talking about, just follow who the ‘godless’ media is focusing on, and it will be apparent Insurrecta nex.
Isn’t it wonderful or ironic that our government will be delivering to us in the season celebrating the birth of our savior, one of the most despicable pieces of legislation in the history of our country. Sure, everyone can look at Sen. Ben Nelson, and accuse him of being a sell out to the pro life movement and his own supposed ‘pro life’ stance. We can also look at many of the Senators and declare them rightfully so as sellouts to the cause. As we look at this debacle, and begin to live it, there will be plenty of blame to go around.
Who is it that will ultimately be held accountable for this anti God, anti children, anti life and anti good quality health care? Well, there is plenty to go around, and it ought to be a sobering moment for us to contemplate this. What an insult to God, that our government is choosing the Christmas season to pass this, and they have made it clear from Obama on down, to get this done before the ‘Holiday recess”. Demonic, in deed.
One needs to go no further than our elected officials to see the end results. These men and women have been elected to represent our interests, and to a certain extent, they have done this. The issue has always been that most of these elected officials vote for a bill that riles the base, but come the next election, it is long forgotten, and they end up back in office. Hence, these officials have very little to fear by going along with a very vocal minority that happens to be extremely liberal, and may I say, demonically lead. These officials make a mockery of the faith they claim to follow, and want to ‘separate’ their claimed faith from reality, such as Sen. Casey in Pennsylvania, Sen. Lindsay Graham in South Carolina, The Kennedy clan, Kerry, etc. There is little fear of repercussions for these elected officials, and they continue to propagate relativistic and liberal agendas.
The electorate also carries a great deal of the weight as well. Most elections consist of maybe 50% bothering to even vote, and the majority coming into vote, have not put much effort into learning about the candidates (I have volunteered to canvas, and work the polls for the past several elections) and it is dismaying that little preparation goes into this process. There is more attention paid to “Survivor” than to those elected officials who have the ability and desire to change and regulate our lives. Many go into vote very robot like, and pull the lever for the name they recognize. It seems we as a nation, are in the grips of mass attention deficit disorder, due to the fact most seem to have no memory of the garbage that is called law that is legislated by this government, and the electorate does not hold the politicians accountable for it.
As bad as this is, the larger blame lies with the mainstream, so called ‘conservative groups’ such as most of the pro life groups. The mainstream pro life groups want to feed other pro lifers pabulum, and encourage such things as ‘virtual’ protests, constant education programs, giving speeches in churches where there are no challenges, endless committees that do little but cosmetic efforts. When protests of substance occur, which challenge the status quo. and make national and international news; they are the first to condemn this with harsher language than is used on the true enemy. Mainly though, the pro life groups ignore the efforts of these individuals, while the enemy and ‘godless’ mainstream press cover them. The mainstream pro life movement wants to get along with the enemy, and try to persuade them to change. They were unable to recognize the points of the fight, including the candidacy and election of Obama, Obama’s invitation to receive and honorary degree and speak at Notre Dame, and the Sotomayor hearings and subsequent elevation to the Supreme Court. Now they act surprised at the proposed health care reform paying for child killing, and did not see this coming. Fighting this war is brutal, and most are not up to the challenge, but what is worse, is they don’t’ know how to support those that are willing to ‘take the bullets’ and get the job done.
However, the group or entity that ultimately will be held accountable is the Church. I am speaking of the whole Christian Church in general and the Catholic Church in particular. Leadership has been abysmal in most cases, and conspiratorial in some. The Bishops did little concerning the candidacy and election of Obama despite the fact he is the most pro death candidate ever, and some actually praised him for his ‘accomplishments’. 2 prelates found it more important to look good at Sen. Kennedy’s funeral, rather than stand up and use this opportunity to teach and take a stand for life. Bishop Loverde of Arlington, Virginia, and Arch Bishop Wuerl of Washington D.C. have the opportunity to with hold communion from the child killing Senators, but refuse to follow the clear mandates of Cannon 915. Will they do it? The Bishop’s silence (with a few exceptions) has been interpreted by politician and lay person alike as implicit permission to determine for themselves what teachings to follow and what to let go of. Why bother to teach at all if all have the right to determine right from wrong on their own, or based on their feelings? Dereliction of duty.
There is no excuse for the legislation that is ready to pass and most likely oppress us for the rest of our lives. We have no one else to blame but ourselves for this, and we are ready to embark on a journey that will take us farther than we wanted and to places we don’t want to go. The longer we let this go, the bloodier the outcome, but be sure: we will pay the bill, and it is very large.
Support those out there who are challenging the status quo, the church and the elected officials. If you want to know who I’m talking about, just follow who the ‘godless’ media is focusing on, and it will be apparent Insurrecta nex.
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