Obama Returns From His Asian Fluff and Stuff Tour

Rock Star Pres Barack Hussein Obama II returned from his Asian Fluff and Stuff self promotion tour alive and well.  At least those are two things we can point to that were accomplished.

Of course the end result was "they liked him". Whew! Now that is a huge relief. Asia likes Obama better than they liked Bush. For a second I thought the whole tour was a waste !

SNL does their take on the Obama tour in China.

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So how did that translate out in policy decisions? They liked him, but they weren't about to be told what to do, nor were they swooned by his charisma. They spotted Obama's hype over substance and just figured it for another act in the Pacific Theater.

At some point in time one has to make a decision of whether they are going to act on their beliefs or not. One has to ascertain if the causes they advocate are worthy of the time commitment that they demand ; as well as the focus and energy they rightly deserve if undertaken.

Many rightly decide they do not have either the time to study and discuss the issues, but can effectively support others who have dedicated themselves to action. In most instances, people who have made the decision to get involved on a grass roots level atypically represent the views of many other people who are not able to that commitment.

As many of you know, or have read, I became involved in a local 527 grassroots organization, Pennsylvania Freedom Fighters. Our local group is represented by two state Representative districts. Last week we met with Rep. Matt Gabler who represents my district in Clearfield County. This week we met with Pennsylvania State Representative Sam Smith who represents the Jefferson County district.

Below are some pictures of our meeting today with Representative Sam Smith with a description beneath each photo 

Pennsylvania Freedom Fighter Second Amendment Committee Chair Jim Wicker expresses his outrage at how far we are away from a Constitutional government and the need to HAVE to pass legislation like the Castle Doctrine. (Pennsylvania Freedom Fighters were expressing their support for HB 40 to Rep. Sam Smith) (link)

Mr. Wicker also questioned Rep. Smith on his positions on the Continental Congress and the role of the county Sheriff needing to be placed back into the Executive Branch in Pennsylvania.

In this photo: Scott Boyer ,Rep. Sam Smith ,Patty Fish  , Jim Wicker and Provoking Thought (me)

Rep. Sam Smith responds in the affirmative to Pennsylvania Freedom Fighters Healthcare Committee Chairman and Blogger Provoking Thought's request for support of HB 2053( link).
John further reiterated the core issue of his concern is highly focused on the individuals right to freely enter into contracts being abridged by the government and that this would set a precedent that was unacceptable.
Rep. Smith shares above that he likes the terminology used in this bill as it is both timely and specifically addressing a corrective measure for residents of the Commonwealth

In this photo: Rep. Sam Smith , Patty Fish , Jim Wicker , Provoking Thought (me) and  businessman  Scott Boyer .

Rep. Sam Smith reacts to some specific challenges made by Pennsylvania Freedom Fighters during their 90 minute meeting on Friday November 20, 2009.

 

Rep. Sam Smith was encouraged that individually and collectively that Pennsylvania Freedom Fighters members not only took him to task and had specific complaints, but that they also offered specific corrective measures as alternative solutions.

 

Besides specific suggestions, Rep. Smith was also reacting to the groups notice that as a registered 527 we have members who have expressed interest in seeking elected office to challenge those who are no longer representing we the people .

The meeting was attended by Pennsylvania Freedom Fighter founder Patty Fish. Second Amendment Chairman Jim Wicker and businessmen Scott Boyer and Ed Gazarick . Not pictured is Healthcare Committee Chairman and Blogger "Provoking Thought" -camera in hand,

In this photo: Ed Gazarick , Scott Boyer ,Rep. Sam Smith  and  Patty Fish 

Rep. Sam Smith positively responds to Patty Fish, organizer of Pennsylvania Freedom Fighters explanation of the founding principles and core mission of Pennsylvania Freedom Fighters.
Patty Fish, community organizer and founder explained the composition of the group and the number of people we represent that hold the same core dedication to bringing about change in government, as well as our disdain for officials who ignore the tax paying public.
Patty Fish asked specific questions of what we can do on three pieces of pending legislation 95 (link) , HB 2053 and HB 40 and where our energy as a group could be most focused on helping Rep. Smith bring these items out of committee and to a vote. Rep. Smith shared that this has been a unusual legislative term where all focus was on the budget and very little else was done legislatively.
Above, Rep. Smith shares how Representatives are bombarded at times from true "astrologers and paid advocates" and the challenges that creates in the sifting through process of who is actually a constituent and who is not. He also expressed he understood the importance of the visit and that we took time away from work and families to discuss these issues with him.
He further shared his uncertainty about how Senators view input from their constituents due to the sheer number they represent and the number who mass mail, mass petition, and mass email on a regular basis.

In this photo: Ed Gazarick , Scott Boyer ,Rep. Sam Smith  and Patty Fish

Pennsylvania Freedom Fighters met with State Rep. Sam Smith at his Punxsutawney office on November 20, 2009 from 10:30-noon.
Rep. Smith is responding to Scott Boyer and Ed Gazarik's remarks that Highway signs marking the federal stimulus package were actually projects which were funded before hand and in specific cases they cited that had began prior to the stimulus package.
Rep. Smith remarks this is one way the federal government is tracking how jobs are created or saved. Rep. Smith is a eleven term representative from Punxsutawney.

In this photo: Ed Gazarick ,Scott Boyer ,Rep. Sam Smith , Patty Fish  and Jim Wicker 

 

For reference the legislation we were discussing was PA House Bill 40 (link) , 2053 (link) and House Resolution 95 (link)

The one thing I am finding in dealing with politicians is that you really have to focus on "what is being said in between the rhetoric." While we are best in a proactive and focused mode, we must always use care to ascertain what is really being said in meetings and that may require that you adjust your approach (or not) in the future

 

Last week when we met with Matt Gabler, he was emblematic of a man who had just had enough and chose to run against the incumbent who had become a good old boy crony and won. This week Rep. Smith's is atypical of one of having been in office for 22 years. Each while sharing similar concerns, come from different worldviews shaped by their inexperience and experience. I noticed different reactions to the same statements that were reflective of that experience.

 

But what is the one thing I walked away from both meetings with that I can share with you? Everyone has a right to oppose pending legislation for whatever reason they see fit. It is our right to grab a sign and go to a protest.. In fact the ability to redress our grievances came at a very high cost and must be protected. In fact, our representatives in both Harrisburg and Washington are confounded by the conservative movement because protesting and organizing in our community is not typical of conservatives. Rep. Smith said in fact, they are used to seeing dial-a-mob so in retrospect this is something new to them.The last real protesting was on the college campuses in the '60's and 70's

 

The opposition that garners the most attention today are the ones who bring alternative solutions to the table. The career politicians are in tune to the political tide and the way they read the tea leaves is that effective community organizations offer a solution, so when you are protesting be prepared to offer a solution, otherwise you will just be discounted as a nay-sayer.

 

Where have I heard that before? That's right--Rules for Radicals. "The price of a successful attack is a constructive alternative."

If there is any silver lining in the government gone wild spending spree, it is that the website is fulfilling it's intended purpose. In the middle of ambiguity at least we do at least have reports of where money is alleged to have been spent.

Website Exposes Waste And False Claims

If there is one claim we should all remember from the campaign, it was that Candidate Obama promised transparent government. The one area we are starting to see a example of that is in the nonstimulating stimulus plan. And it is recovery.gov website that can be used to unearth the dubious claims of Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi.

We can score some points with the nonexisting district, but a word to the wise is to keep it in perspective. These reports are reflecting what people report.and distort. The administration is being careless and playing foot loose and fancy free with the figures to build a propaganda campaign of success for their program.  But we have the reports and the false claims they made, now we have something to start with as a base to hold people to account.

Don't miss the forest for the trees. Without the website, we would not be able to uncover the false claims. Recovery.gov is the silver lining in the current cloud. Like you tube video clips that expose things that do not show the administration in a favorable light, I would suggest archiving damning data with screen shots, are web archiving to preserve the date for later research. They may be fake jobs in fake districts but it is real tax money that has been spent. Maybe in the end, recovery.gov may actually aid us in recovering the misspent funds and jailing the abusers of the nonrecovery act. Recovery.gov may be their own mousetrap for rooting out corruption . Sweet.

In his own words...Top Globalist Henry Kissinger Calls on China to Surrender Sovereignty and Join the New World Order

So matter of fact, that is what Obama is going over to talk to them about.

That's right. Why should we insure sick people anyway? It is just not the right thing to do at all ! If you think insurance is what sick people need,  you stay away from me when I am sick! If you are sick do you want me to take you to your insurance agent ? Of course not! Sick people need treatment, not insurance!

Health Insurance is not for everybody and certainly not for people with preexisting conditions. So why in the world would we be trying to force anyone to insure people who are uninsurable? The entire precept lacks any common sense.

Now the obvious question is what do we do with the people who have preexisting conditions and need care and do not have insurance? The government proposes we use the IRS to pressure people to buy health insurance under penalty of law.

Well after pondering the insanity of fining people up to $250,000 and /or 5 years in prison for tax evasion if they did not purchase your product, and were unable to pay the tax penalty , I came to the conclusion that solution didn't make sense .

The idea of Timothy Geithner having people arrested for not paying a tax penalty for failure to purchase insurance was too much irony for me.Yet my mind kept thinking , Geithner, health care, taxes and the IRS~how could that be a solution ?

Then it struck me ! As bizarre as it sounds, could you imagine the IRS actually giving incentives to solve the crisis? Instead of taxing tax payers for not buying insurance instead we give people tax incentives?

That's right. Give Doctors, Hospitals and Drug Companies dollar for dollar tax credits for treating people with pre-exisiting conditions.

My State Representative was recounting a mindset he brings to Harrisburg. Lets use small numbers to illustrate the issue. If we both recognize there is a problem that we have to address and you say it will cost $15 and I say it will cost $20, since we agree there is at least a $15 problem we fund the $15 and debate the balance later.

Everyone agrees there is a insurance gap that is complicated by pre-exisiting conditions. Everyone recognizes there is a care giver shortage. Everyone recognizes we are broke. Those are all things reasonable and honest people agree on. We should immediately start giving dollar for dollar tax breaks to doctors, clinics and hospitals for the care they give to people who have pre-exisitng conditions and for a window of time for the insurable uninsured. Of course there is a potential that this could be abused, yet our first concern should be that people who are ill receive treatment . End the emergency and claim your political victory for helping people truly in need already !

When I get sick I do not need to see my insurance agent. When I get sick I really don't need to see the government!  When I am sick I need treatment. It is important that we keep focused on what solutions the government is offering and whether it addresses the causation or the symptom. Relieve the symptom and work on a long term solution for the causation; treatment for the uninsurable. In the meantime, let's make sure that treatment is available to those who are not able to get it while we work out a better plan.

Don't Insure Uninsurable Sick People, give doctors and hospitals tax incentives to treat them instead because health insurance is not for everybody.