The Affordable Care Act, a.k.a. Obamacare

The goal was admirable, but like much of what our government tells us, it is not as advertised. I have no intention of getting into the specifics of whose fault this mess is, or all of the half-truths and misrepresentations that were used to get this law passed. The talking heads have been pointing fingers and placing blame ad nauseum for months. What I would like to share is my experience with trying to abide by this new law.

Like many of you, I found trying to access the website in the early days impossible. I tried several times in the first few weeks, but the site just did not work. It was a never ending loop back to where you started because the site kept crashing. From the news reports it was clear that the site was not ready and never should have been launched.

After it was announced that the site was repaired, I tried several times to get through the first step; registration. After several attempts it became obvious that the government’s definition of repaired must be different from mine. Same loop as before, but they had added error messages. I assume the repair crew must be the same crack staff that designed the site to begin with.

So, with one day left to try and get this done, the wife and out set out to navigate this labyrinth and make one more attempt to comply with the new law. Great news! Things have improved. After only an hour and several website crashes, we succeeded in getting an account set up. Things were looking better! Now it’s time to log in and find out what types of coverage’s are available. After completing the account set up page we were automatically redirected to the log in page. The big moment was here; entered in the login information and clicked login. Oh good, yet another error message. An account that was just created was somehow locked and/or disabled. Two options; live chat or call the 800 number.

I started with the 800 number. No surprise that it is all automated. It first will tell you that they are experiencing a high volume of calls and wait times could be long. To reinforce this it goes on to tell you that if you are on a cell phone, make sure it is fully charged. They should also tell you to pack a sack lunch. I gave up after more than an hour on hold.

I decided to go ahead and waste the rest of my day with trying the live chat option. I actually prefer it as most of the time it is the quickest option on a competently built site. This is much like calling the 800 number. You receive a greeting message telling you they are experiencing a lot of traffic, but someone would be willing to help me shortly. After waiting for someone to chat with for exactly 81 minutes, I again through in the towel and closed the chat window. How did I know I waited 81 minutes? The chat window logs what time you requested help and then sends you a message every 90 to 93 seconds asking you to be patient while they are helping others. I’m assuming the clock is one of the repairs they are so proud of, as it seems to be the only thing on the entire fucking site that works.

According to the HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius “We the People” have spent 319 million dollars through the end of October 2013 and are obligated to spend a total of 677 million dollars to build this website. I assume this had to be a no bid contract that apparently required no proof of competency to get. If the company was properly vetted you would think the legacy of poor work would have shown up. Maybe someone should send those in power a link to Angie’s list, or better yet Go Daddy. How about a conversation with a successful web operator like Amazon? I know these are simple suggestions, but I find you get the best information from those who have proven experience, not political connections.

The other question I keep asking myself is this; how can a website that cost so much and works so poorly not have cost someone their job? I can’t think of one private sector job where you could spend 319 million dollars on a project that is a complete and utter failure, and still keep your job. Is no one accountable for what is done with the people’s money?

I’ll close with this; if you are going to force the American people to buy a product they do not want, the least you could do is make the website they have to use work, especially as you have spent millions of “our” dollars to build this site.

In the meantime, I’ll be spending the day on hold, hoping that a Christmas miracle will occur and someone will answer the phone or the live chat.  

 

For Bob

Shortly after receiving my driver’s license I took a job driving a tow truck at Ernie Schmidt Standard. The man assigned to train me was named Bob Shirley. Despite the difference in age we became fast friends. We had many good times working together, but as time passed, we both moved on to other things. Over the next couple of decades we kept in touch; sometimes just through his brothers Kim and Jay, but that connection remained.

During this time, I became a Corvette expert and Bob fell in love with Corvettes. The first one he showed up with was a race car with headlights. A 3^rd generation Corvette is not easy to get in and out of, nor does it offer much in creature comforts. Bob didn't care, it was loud and fast. My job was to keep it maintained and/or repaired. As we began to see more of each other, the friendship continued to grow.

He bought a 96 Corvette when he sold the beast. Still not easy to enter or exit, but creature comforts it had. Bob had all the accessories and enjoyed taking it on the Hot Rod Power Tour several times. As before, I maintained and repaired it for him. It also became a winter resident in my garage to ease parking at his home. Bob became a good friend to my grandson Kael when the car started wintering in the garage. Kael made a deal with Bob to keep the wheels clean, for which Bob paid him $5. When Bob showed up Kael could not wait to tell him of his latest adventures, and Bob would patiently listen as Kael rambled on.

When my health problems began, Bob was constantly checking in. I can’t remember a period in the last three years that he didn't call or drop by to check on me. The last couple of years he was always trying to get me to go out; lunch, a car show, anywhere. Last fall I had a 2010 Corvette in the garage and Bob fell in love with it. The owner decided to sell it, and the asking price was right. I called Bob and he ended up with the Corvette of his dreams.

When the weather broke in the spring, it was time for Bob to get his new Vette out. He wanted me to follow him home so he could have the Vette and his truck at home. I agreed assuming I'd be in the truck. Nope, he wanted me to follow him in the Vette. I assumed he’d drive me back home. No again. He had me drive the Vette and explain how things worked. Typical Bob, he left plates and insurance on the 96 and left it at my disposal. When I had a good enough day to get in and out of it, it was mine to drive.

It was about this time that Bob noticed my roof was in poor shape and asked me about it. I had the shingles, but I was no longer capable of putting them on. He said he’d take care of it; he had a nephew that did roofs. About a month later Brian and friend show up to do my roof; Brian is also a longtime friend and a past employee. They made short work of it, did a great job, and their labor was taken care of by uncle Bob. Bob just shrugged off my thanks as no big deal, but to me and my family it was a very big deal.

As summer began to come to a close, Bob was still doing his best to get me to a car show. He knew I missed going from the many conversations we had. He found out through a chance meeting with my wife at the gas station that the reason I did not go to shows was because I could no longer walk the distances most required. By the time I parked and walked to the show, I was spent.

About a week later Bob showed up and announced he was taking both Vettes to the Mother Road Festival, and that I would be attending. Before I could raise an argument, he announced that he had rented a mobility scooter for me. He would meet me where I parked to help me load and unload the scooter. He left no room for an excuse. Bob asked Kael what he was doing with all of that wheel cleaning money. Kael told him he was saving for a skateboard. Kael also explained at length why he needed one as Bob patiently listened.

I met Bob and Carol at the show on my rented scooter. I had not been to a show in four years; I had a blast. I thoroughly enjoyed the day scooting around looking at the cars and talking with Bob and Carol. I couldn't thank him enough. We all had a good time.

The week after the show, Bob started looking for a scooter to buy. He sent link after link for me to look at. Some of them were more than 5 hours away, but he didn't care. I told him to be patient, a deal would turn up and I wouldn't need it until next show season. I also told him he did not need to buy me a scooter. 

Bob dropped by to see Kael. He had bought him a skateboard and all of the knee and elbow pads that were recommended. I can still see his smile as he watched Kael ride the skateboard. If I had to guess whose smile was bigger that day, Kael or Bob’s, it would be Bob.

We found a scooter the following week that was a really good deal. Bob came by and picked me up so that we could go get it. It was in great shape and made for outside use. Bob had me try it out and then he bought it. We hauled it home that night and talked about the car shows I could now attend. We planned to go to Bloomington Gold and several other shows next season now that I had “wheels”.

I spoke with him last week about getting the Vettes parked for the winter. We made plans to get them put up last Sunday. Typically Bob would call to confirm plans when he got back to town on Thursday nights. I still had not heard from him by Sunday night, nor was he returning my calls. None of this was in character for him. Something must be wrong.

I learned that Bob passed away November 1st. He had a massive stroke the Thursday he was to call. I was devastated. Bob had become one of my closest friends in the last couple of years. A friendship that felt more like family than just friendship. I've spent the last few days grieving for Bob and his family’s loss, but I have found peace in several things.

Bob was home when he had his stroke, not on the road in his 18 wheeler hundreds of miles from home. He was surrounded by those he loved most in his last days. His suffering was not long. He had a great summer in the Corvette of his dreams, doing the things he loved with the love of his life.   

I will miss you my friend. Your visits and our conversations helped me through a really rough time. I will attend the shows we planned to attend together next year without you, but because of you. Every time I sit on that scooter I will be reminded of your kindness, compassion, generosity, and most importantly, your friendship.

Rest in Peace Bob. You've earned it.

My Colonoscopy at Springfield Clinic

As I mentioned in a previous post, I have had some health problems in recent years that have left me disabled. In that post I spoke very highly of the care I have recieved from my doctors, but failed to mention them or the institution they are affiliated with. I would like to correct that error and share my recent experience.

My relationship with Springfield Clinic began in 1959 under the care of Dr. Eveloff. He was the only doctor I saw until the age of 18. I was a healthy child, so most visits were for routine check-ups. Then as today, the staff were always friendly and helpful. Dr. Eveloff and Springfield Clinic had earned my trust through the quality of care that was consistently delivered at every visit.

I met the man who would become my primary physician when he was a resident at SIU family practice. Dr. James Stegeman has been my primary physician for my entire adult life. I will admit that we hit it off the first time we met, and over the years we've become friends. He knows my quirks and has always been willing to help despite them. My trust in him is implicit. His support staff is top notch in every aspect from the receptionist to the nurses.

I went in for my annual wellness visit last month which is discussed in an earlier post. Two days after my visit I received a call from one of Dr. Stegeman's support staff; if I had not yet had a colonoscopy, one needed to be scheduled. These were the words I had been dreading.

I was sent to see Dr.Brad Paris for a consultation. The consultation was short, but very thorough. My first impression was very good. If you have to have this done, the least you could expect is a likeable doctor. Dr. Paris was this and more.

The day before the procedure I started the cleansing process. I had heard all the nightmare stories of having to drink a gallon of the worst tasting liquid ever invented and spending all day and night on the toilet; this has changed. Dr. Paris had prescribed SUPREP, two 6 ounce bottles of fluid taken with water. The first bottle was mixed with water at 10:00 AM and consumed. It had to be followed by two additional glasses of water in the next hour. By 1:00 PM it had done its job, and I no longer worried about my distance from the toilet. A liquid diet for the day; a list of permissible fluids was provided at the consultation. At 8:00 PM the process is repeated. By 10:00 PM the cleansing was complete. Nothing by mouth after midnight. Not a pleasant day, but not nearly as bad as it had been described by others.

My wife and I arrived at the clinic at 5:45 AM the next day. I am not a morning person by any definition, but the clinic is full of them. Happy smiling faces greeted us at every turn. The check-in was painless; the wife was provided a pager so that she did not have to sit in the waiting room. They would notify her when I was in recovery.

After a short wait we were called back to a prep room. Much to my surprise there was a large recliner with a blanket for me to sit in and a TV (remote included) to watch. The nurse went through a few questions to make sure all my information was current. She then provided a gown for me to put on as well as socks. As you know, you wear nothing under this gown. When the wife helped me to put it on, I was surprised to find it was almost as thick as flannel. We cracked the door to let her know I was dressed and in minutes she was in the room with warm blankets. She started an IV and attached the patch to my back that would monitor my vital signs. The anesthesiologist was in to visit and ask a few questions. Dr. Paris then stopped in to make sure we had no further questions before we got started.

A few minutes later the nurse was in to walk me down to where the procedure would be performed. The dreaded walk down the hall with your backside exposed and cold, but wait! As soon as I stood, another nurse was there with a warm blanket which she held over my backside for the walk. They helped me onto the bed, and you guessed it, another freshly warmed blanket. The nurse chatted with me during the short wait for Dr. Paris. When he arrived she told me she was going to start the anesthesia. I watched her push the plunger, and the next thing I know, I'm looking at my wife wondering when they would start. The recovery nurse was waiting with cookies and a soft drink for me while we waited to see Dr. Paris. He was in promptly to explain what was found and to recommend a boost in my fiber intake. My visit ended with a gentle ride in a wheelchair to my car.

The care I received at the clinic for this procedure would rival a first class resort/spa. The staff are friendly people who go above and beyond to make your experience as pleasant as possible. The doctors go out of their way to make sure you understand, and are comfortable with the procedures being performed.

I received a call the next day from Dr. Paris's nurse to check on how I was doing, and to make sure I had no further questions.

I'm not sure when I'll have to go back, but when I do I can rest assured that I will receive the best care available in Central Illinois. Thank you to all involved for making my experience a pleasant one.

Ron Kane

Syria

Why are we even considering any intervention in Syria? If we listen to the talking heads we will learn that if we do not intervene it threatens our national security. They just can’t seem to tell us how. Most now lean towards telling us how badly our credibility in the world will be damaged. Others will tell you it has to be done for moral and humanitarian reasons.

Let’s take the last one first. Moral and humanitarian reasons; morally the murder of innocents is reprehensible, and the use of chemical weapons on women and children does invoke empathy for the victims and their families. As compassionate people we would want to help them under the definition of humanitarian reasons.

There are many organizations that can provide humanitarian relief; isn’t that something the U.N. is supposed to handle?  So, we are left with the immoral acts being committed on the Syrian people, by the Syrian people. Realistically, the morals of the Syrian people seem to be different from those traditionally held in America. When did “we the people” decide to be the morality police for the world? Whose morals are we enforcing?

Our President drew a red line and warned Syria not to cross it. They ignored that warning and have crossed it more than once, if news reports are to be believed, and we have yet to act. Our credibility is already damaged. If the administration were serious they would have put a plan in place that could be put in action immediately if that line were crossed. Instead, we now openly debate the President’s decision to intervene in both houses, on TV for the world to see, at the President’s request. We’ll probably televise the decision and tell Syria what day and time to expect us.

The argument that our national security is threatened by Syria baffles me. Yes, they have tons of all types of chemical weapons, probably biological weapons as well, but they have no method of delivering such a weapon against our country. Yes, these weapons could fall into the hands of terrorists, but that has most likely already happened. The final point for this argument is that it threatens our allies. Look at a map of the region. How many countries in that part of the world are really our allies? If we were not sending billions of our tax dollars to them in aid every year, would they still be allies?

It seems that somewhere in the past our representatives changed the reasons we would make these sacrifices and “we the people” let that happen. We got involved WW I because our allies were attacked. We were attacked which led to our fighting WW II. Both of these wars were supported by the people; we sold war bonds and we rationed many consumables in order to provide what our soldiers needed. We fought Korea and Vietnam to slow the spread of communism when the cold war with the Soviet Union threatened our country. After that it seems the reasons to go to war became less significant.

We defended Kuwait at the request of Saudi Arabia when Iraq invaded. I believe time will show this as the first mistake America made in the region. It was this decision that empowered the Jihadists. The Saudi leadership chose the U.S. over the Arab fighters who had freed Afghanistan. This was a huge insult to their pride, and it would allow infidels onto Muslim holy ground.

After the attacks of 9/11 the government declared a war on terror. We would bring these terrorists to justice at all costs. I believe every American agreed with this decision. We went to Afghanistan to destroy the Taliban and the terrorists they supported. Then we had to invade Iraq again to stop the spread of weapons of mass destruction, which turned out to be non-existent. We spent billions of dollars and thousands of our brave warriors’ lives in these campaigns. We continue to do so ten years later in Afghanistan. We brought democracy to both of these countries and the talking heads point to free elections and elected officials now governing these countries as our success. This led to the Arab Spring, which toppled dictators for elected governments, and each time the talking heads went out of their way to tell us how our intervention in Iraq and Afghanistan were the spark that ignited this movement.

So, where does that leave us? Iraq is still experiencing daily sectarian violence, and innocent people continue to die. The freely elected government is so corrupt it makes our politicians look good; not an easy task. Afghanistan is no better off. Egypt is a hotbed of violence which was caused by a military coup which has led to sectarian violence, as well as what appears to be ethnic cleansing.  Libya suffers from similar problems. Now we have a civil war in Syria which finds its roots in religious sectarian differences and we want to get involved? To what end?

Every survey I have seen, regardless of network or party affiliation, shows “we the people” do not want this fight. Why then are our representatives and senators even considering a vote to intervene in Syria? What in the history of our recent interventions in the Middle East makes them think this is our job, or that the end result will be any different from the above examples?

Let’s say for the sake of argument we decide not to intervene. The next decision will be whether or not to arm the rebels. Can anyone tell me who they are? What are the rebels end goals? Will the resulting government be an ally, or more of the above? Let’s not forget, it was us that armed Osama Bin Laden and his Taliban fighters when they were fighting the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. It was us that armed Saddam Hussein when he was at war with Iran. This is a trend I think we should end.

Both sides seem to be led by men that place little value on human life. Basher al-Assad has proven his disregard for his people for more than a year. He is more than willing to use any weapon in his arsenal to hold onto his position, against rebel forces and innocents alike. There seem to be several rebel leaders, but the most well-known is a rebel commander named Abu Sakar. A Google search brings up some history about him, including a video of him cutting out the heart and liver of a dead soldier and eating the heart. This is who we want to arm?

As a country we are seventeen trillion dollars in debt. Our military has been at war for more than a decade. The cost in American lives and the billions spent cannot be justified by the results of these actions. It’s time we took care of ourselves and our country.

I believe that we should have the strongest military in the world. If our country is threatened by any entity, I believe the full force of our military should be brought to bear. I also believe the key to any such action should be to crush the enemy to such a degree that no one would dare attempt it in the future. The knock it down, and then rebuild it at our expense is ludicrous.  

Mr. President, tell the world we are no longer their policeman; they’ll have to settle their differences on their own, just as we did in our own Civil War. Tell them that when you drew a red line in a country that is not yours, it was a mistake. After careful consideration you've decided that if the other Arab nations are not willing to step up while Assad continues to kill his own people, it is not our place to get involved. The U.S. will change its focus to defense of its borders and the continued hunting down and destruction of those that would do us harm.

“We the people” need to contact our representatives and tell them to sit this one out. If we do not take the time to make our voices heard, we have no right to bitch when we find ourselves at war again.

Final note: There have been several posts recently of people in full military dress holding up homemade signs in front of their faces that all have a similar theme; I didn't join the Service to fight the Syrian civil war. If you are truly members of our military, you should be ashamed. When you took your oath, you wrote a blank check to the people of the United States up to and including your life to defend this country. If that means fighting in Syria, whether you agree or not, you fight in Syria. Soldiers don’t pick the battles they fight, their commanders do. You should know that. Vietnam was not a popular war, but our brave men and women fought it just the same. More than 50,000 gave their lives because it was deemed by their commanders to be in the best interests of the country. You dishonor them and all who came before them in defense of our nation.

   

The Fort Hood Shooter

Let’s talk Nidal Hasan, the Fort Hood shooter.

I would like to start by saying that his crime being classified as workplace violence is ludicrous. It was by his own admission an act in defense of Taliban soldiers that might be killed by the men and women of this country, that were his fellow soldiers. It was an act of terrorism, plain and simple. The only reason I can fathom for this not to be called terrorism is to limit the benefits of those affected by his actions.

Why was a trial held? Why did he not just plead guilty? He admitted his crime at the beginning of the trial. Many thought he would use the trial to make a case for the Jihad he decided to support by killing and maiming his fellow soldiers. In fact, he offered no defense at all. He cross-examined only one witness that I'm aware of, and then asked only one question.

Now in the sentencing phase, his tactics have not changed. He offers no defense and sits quietly listening to the people whom he wounded and the families of those he killed. He still has a couple of opportunities to speak, but at this point I do not think he will use those opportunities. His only goal can be martyrdom. He hopes for the death penalty so that he can be a hero to the cause he betrayed his fellow soldiers for.

I am not against the death penalty for those cases where there can be no doubt of guilt. If there was ever a case that screamed for the death penalty, this is it. I believe the punishment should fit the crime, but this is a unique case. As a country we have the chance to send a strong message to those who would follow in this man’s footsteps.

His crime is horrendous; his punishment should be the same. He wishes for death, for martyrdom, a hero to his cause. By sentencing him to death, we give him what he wants. So, I hope he is sentenced to a life of hard labor at all costs. When not performing labor, he should be kept in solitary. If he decides to hold a hunger strike, tube feed him; the goal should be to keep this terrorist alive as long as we possibly can. To Hasan this would be the ultimate punishment; exactly what he deserves.

Once a year we get a network to take those he injured, or the families of those he killed to visit him in his new life and produce a documentary on how would be martyrs are treated for their actions. Air the special a couple of times a year so that the images stay fresh in the minds of those who would harm us.

As a country we should wish him a long, lonely, painful life. His only visitors should be his victims, a constant reminder of his failure to break the spirit of “We the people.”

Those who would harm “We the people” deserve the ultimate punishment, but in a case like Hasan’s that means life, not death.    

Gun Control and Concealed Carry

Let’s start at the beginning, with the 2^nd Amendment.

“A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a Free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

So what is all the argument about? It boils down to two interpretations of what the founding fathers meant. So as we begin this journey we must realize that both sides of the argument use the amendment’s wording to support their arguments.

To people who support gun rights this statement protects the right of the individual to keep and bear firearms, period.

To those who support gun control this statement was meant solely for the purpose of forming militias in defense of the country or state.

Stipulations of the Amendment protect the right of the individual to keep and bear arms. This was a personal liberty that would deter oppressive government or invading forces. The American people wanted to ensure that never again would they fall under unjust rule such as the British Parliament had imposed on colonists.

We made adjustments to what a citizen could own with the National Firearms Act in the 1930’s. Mainly aimed at weapons favored by gangsters, it sought to regulate the sale and movement of machine guns and other short barreled weapons. It also addressed the use of silencers and destructive devices, such as bombs or grenades.

The Gun Control Act of 1968 further revised not only what a citizen could own, but it also laid out the rules for citizens that would be barred from owning firearms due to criminal history or mental illness. The Federal Firearms Licensing System was adopted to further control the flow of firearms and to provide a paper trail as firearms were bought and sold.

The adjustments made in the 30’s and again in 1968 were all met with resistance. It is still argued today that the Gun Control Act of 1968 was and continues to be unnecessary.

So, where does that leave us? We’ve outlawed fully automatic weapons, silencers, grenades, and bombs. We have to purchase our firearms through a licensed dealer and pass a background check. We are now allowed concealed carry with Illinois finally joining the rest of the nation. In most states it requires a training certificate for concealed carry, but that seems to be a reasonable requirement.

For those in favor of stricter gun control, please pay attention; the above statements apply only to law abiding citizens. The criminals do not care, nor do they abide by these rules. 

This leads us to concealed carry.

The reality in America is that our love of guns and the right to own them has led to more than 100 million guns within our borders. This a best estimate; it could be many more. Include the black market and that number could land anywhere. We now find ourselves in an era of budget cuts across the nation. Many of these cuts were made within law enforcement, thinning the number of officers on duty and forcing them to cover more and more territory. Despite the best efforts of our officers, response times have increased. Worse yet, many times they find themselves outnumbered and outgunned. A recent article stated that response time in Detroit could be as much as an hour.

This is today’s justification of the 2^nd amendment. Because the 2nd amendment has allowed gun ownership for centuries, we now need its protection to defend ourselves, Law abiding citizens cannot afford to give up this right and leave ourselves helpless to those who would commit crimes against us. We have to protect ourselves from those who would do us harm. In many areas of the country “we the people” have no choice but to protect ourselves. Not all crime happens at home, thus concealed carry. A criminal is less likely to risk a robbery if he or she doesn’t know how many citizens are carrying. Do we need military style assault weapons? The honest answer is, we might. 

Shouldn’t the law abiding people of this country be as well armed as those who would harm us? The only reasonable adjustment to current gun laws would be to make the owner of a gun responsible for its use. If it’s used to commit a crime, you are an accessory. If it is stolen or sold, it is your responsibility to report it as such.  

Having carried a gun while working at a gun store, there are a couple of things that should be pointed out. Carrying a loaded weapon is a huge responsibility. Proper training is a must for anyone carrying a gun in public. Pulling and/or shooting that weapon should always be a last resort.

The second point is to plant a seed for those of you who choose to carry a weapon. Assume the worst case scenario; you are down to your last resort. Are you truly capable of shooting another person? If you cannot answer with a confident yes, leave the gun at home. Hesitation could get you killed and put others in harm’s way.

Let me finish with this. To those of you who think your weapons can protect you if our government becomes too oppressive, I wish you the best. If you want to take on an M1 or a Blackhawk with your M4, make sure your affairs and funeral arrangements are in order. To those of you who choose to own and carry firearms to help protect your family, neighborhood, or country, Thank you!

Driving is a privilege, not a right.

Too many times in my life and the lives of my friends we have experienced the loss of a loved one in an automobile accident. Some of these are under circumstances beyond anyone's control. Others fall into a couple of different categories; driving under the influence and distracted driving. These are not new facts, but the loss of a friend’s aunt and uncle last week started a thought process that required venting.

So, here we go. We'll take them one at a time.

Driving under the influence.

As I said, this is not a new problem, but our efforts to prevent people from driving under the influence do not seem to be working. The police are doing their job in finding people who are too drunk to be behind the wheel and arresting them. I believe it is in the court system that we are being let down. Part of the reason for this is that the general public refuses to see this as a problem that affects them. None of the measures taken to date seem to have grabbed their attention. We see reports of accidents every day that maim and kill innocent people because someone decided to drive drunk, and still we remain silent and the penalties remain wanting.

As Americans it seems that in order to get everyone’s attention, we need to declare war. So we'll have the War on D.U.I., complete with mandatory sentencing depending on the crime. We also need to be able to alter the process that allows someone found driving under the influence to continue to drive awaiting a court date.

So, surprise, I have a few suggestions.

Any person who blows above the legal limit is guilty. It does not take a judge to figure this out, nor can a defense attorney change this fact. So why are we wasting the court’s time and our money. The penalties need to be put on a level that would make a drug dealer squirm. The penalties could still be progressive dependent on each case, but no one should be allowed to keep a driver’s license or license plates after arrest for DUI. They should be confiscated at the time of arrest and only returned after their sentence has been served.

What gives the police the right to take the license and plates? Because in my plan anyone who drives under the influence will have no need of them for at least a year. That should be the minimum sentence along with a very large fine for what I'll call the accidental drunk. This would be a first time offender who blows no more than 10% above the legal limit. In Illinois that would be .08 to .09 blood alcohol level, and there is no accident or injuries involved. The in car breathalyzers have been an option here, but they only work if the offender drives that vehicle.

As the blood alcohol level rises, so does the obvious irresponsibility of the driver. The judge can use an escalating penalty scale based on the blood alcohol level of a first time offender. Assume the driver blows a 2.3 at the time of arrest. Up to 5 years no license or plates, and let’s make the fine five times the minimum sentence.

The part of my plan that every person who owns a car needs to realize is this: If you allow someone whose license is revoked to drive your vehicle, you lose your license and plates for a year and you too get to pay a large fine. You are an accessory, guilty of everything the driver is and subject to the same punishments.

If while serving one of the above sentences, you are caught driving, your sentence should double. If you are caught D.U.I. while serving one of these sentences, your sentence should become a lifetime ban on driving and ten times the original fine. If caught driving a friend’s vehicle, that friend will receive the same sentence.

A third offense should result in confinement as determined by a judge, but let’s not fill our prisons with these folks where we have to support them. Let’s improve the ankle bracelet house arrest system beyond its current level. Currently these bracelets are monitored and when someone leaves the authorized perimeter, law enforcement is notified. Many times by the time an officer arrives the person is in the wind, and we have wasted more money. Let the ankle bracelet work like a dog’s shock collar; try to leave your house, you get tazed by the bracelet. Like the current ankle bracelet program, leaving the assigned property requires advanced notice and the permission of the court.

I know it seems pretty harsh, but it does keep the streets safer by making the penalties draconian. The shocking ankle bracelet may seem cruel at first glance, but give it some real thought. Is society better served with putting a drunk in prison with hardened criminals where we will support them, or by agreeing to stay at home with family and letting the family support them and suffering a shock if they should stray? Is not the drunk also better served?

If while D.U.I. you cause property damage, injure or kill someone, the penalties need to be even stiffer. We as a society must demand that these laws change to protect the innocent lives lost on a daily basis. My personal opinion is that anyone who causes a loss of life while D.U.I. should never drive again, as well as facing all other appropriate charges.

Distracted Driving.

This is a tough one to address. Most states have now passed or soon will be passing legislation that bans the use of handheld cell phones. Penalties vary from place to place, but most laws only allow a fine. I’m not sure these laws will have much effect unless the penalties become painfully expensive. This is another area where repeat offenders need to face draconian penalties. Like someone caught D.U.I. and having caused property damage, injury, or death, similar penalties should apply as well as any other appropriate charges.

Bluetooth phones remain legal, although how less distracting they are is debatable. Newer vehicles have complex entertainment and communication systems that will continue to distract drivers, and these systems will become more complex exponentially through necessity every year. One thing the handheld ban will curb is texting while driving, until voice texting becomes standard equipment on newer vehicles.

I do not think there is a way to approach this problem other than sticking with the bans and making the penalties painful. People will continue to use new technologies in ways that were not considered, and we as a society need to adjust our laws to keep up with these changes.

The last couple of generations have been raised in an age of technology that older generations only dreamed of. Because of this they are born multi-taskers. They can surf the web while having multiple chat sessions, and a phone conversation all while texting three friends at the same time. To them the addition of driving to the list seems irrelevant. We need to help them understand that adding driving puts them and all those around them in danger. Not an easy sell, but we must keep trying and providing a good example.

One note on distracted driving; when all of this started I thought it was ridiculous. I considered what the driver of a Model T Ford had to do to operate the vehicle. You had a parking brake/shifter on the left next to the seat. You have clutch, brake, and gas pedals. On one side of the column you had a lever to adjust fuel mixture; on the other side you had a lever to adjust timing, and you had to work all of these as you drove down the road. Talk about distracted driving! But my reasoning was flawed because cars today are more powerful, and the streets are much more crowded.

So, what’s the bottom line? As a society we must insist that penalties for D.U.I. offences be made so painful that even the worst drunk won't risk driving, and if they do, justice needs to be swift and the penalties severe. I think the same should hold true for distracted drivers.

And most importantly; driving is a privilege, not a right.  

545

Today’s topic will be our government. So why is the title 545? We'll get to that. It is obvious to anyone living in America that our government is broken in more ways than can be counted. There are many things one can point to, our tax code, our crumbling infrastructure, what seems to be unending unemployment, and our legal system rarely seems just anymore. Worse yet, as a country we are swimming in debt, but cannot seem to find a way to reduce spending while refusing to pay debts we have already incurred. Our government continues to be gridlocked on almost every issue, each side pointing to the other to lay blame. The general public seems to be apathetic about these problems and the ability of anyone coming into office that might have answers; Real answers.

So who’s to blame for this mess; Republicans, Democrats, The Independents, or all of the above? The answer is none of them. We the American people are at fault. We elected these men and women to protect the interests of all of us and even when they fail miserably, we re-elect them. Why?

It comes down to choices and the only ones we have are already tied to an agenda. We have a two and a half party system; the Republicans on the right and the Democrats on the left. The few Independents available, trying to find the middle, lack funding, and candidates to challenge the big two. Campaign financing laws have become a joke, with special interest groups spending millions to get their candidate elected. Do any of us think this support comes with no strings attached?

I don't have all the answers as to how we fix the system, but I have a few suggestions.  

Eliminate the Electoral College. With today’s technology it is no longer needed. As long as it exists it is always possible that the election can be won through the Electoral College, even when the popular vote would give a different result. The popular vote would be us, we the people. That is the vote that should count.

Establish term limits. This should have been done a long time ago. Our founding fathers imposed these limits on themselves. Their vision was not a country run by career politicians.

Establish recall procedures that do not require an act of God. They are our employees; if they are not doing the job, we need to be able to fire them and replace them, like in the real world.

Adjust the salaries and benefits of our representatives to the median American household income, and those salaries and benefits end with their term just like the rest of us when we lose our jobs. Adjustments should also be made to their expense accounts which many times exceed the salary they are already drawing.

Foreign aid needs to be cut drastically. We continue to send our tax dollars to countries that hate us and everything we stand for. Why? What benefit have we gained from this practice? We have been at war for almost 15 years. We destroy the country to free their people at a cost in dollars that can be measured, and a cost in American lives that cannot, only to spend millions more to rebuild that country, and they still hate us. As long as Americans are homeless, hungry, and out of work, our money should be spent here to help Americans. Humanitarian aid where required should continue only when that aid is guaranteed to reach those it was intended for.

Adjust military spending to reflect the world we live in. We continue to build a military that is designed on cold war enemies and being the policeman for the world. Let’s turn in that badge and let other countries do what we had to do. Let them earn their own freedom; we of all the people on the Earth should realize that freedom must be earned. The freedom of Americans has been earned by the blood of their countrymen. When we won our independence it was not handed to us, nor were the supplies we needed furnished to us. We borrowed money to support our cause and repaid those loans. Name a country we have freed from dictatorship that has reimbursed us for the cost. Anybody?

Our membership in the United Nations seems neither cost effective nor beneficial to our country. Its recent decisions are comical and we the American people are the only teeth they have to enforce these decisions. This organization seems even less successful than its predecessor, The League of Nations, and I didn't think that was possible.

We need to stop trying to make things equal for all where it damages our competitiveness  Make no mistake, I do not mean the equality between race, creed, sexual orientation, or color that we have worked so hard to achieve. I speak of the generations we are raising now. Our schools teach children the same curriculum regardless of ability. The problem is that instead of lifting those that might be a little behind up, we insist on slowing others down. It carries over into sports; there are no losers, everyone gets a trophy. How does this prepare them for the real world? This is the equality that is killing our competitive edge.

We the people need to stop buying products made in countries that are not our allies. We need to focus on buying products made in America by Americans. Many of the jobs we have lost have moved overseas because labor costs are so much less. Large corporations need to stop focusing on billion dollar profits and bring their jobs back to Americans. It means a little less profit for them, but would quickly help the economy recover, which can only have a positive effect on all. We the people can force this issue; buy American or not at all. Call it an expansion of the Buy Local Program.

The bottom line is, it always has been and continues to be we the people’s decision. This is our country and we should elect people who support the view that our people will always come first.  When we have repaired our infrastructure, when we have the finest schools, when our people are no longer hungry and living in the streets, then and only then should we be rebuilding other countries.

When the next election rolls around we need to end this grid lock. We need to elect people who put country before party, those that are willing to compromise to begin to fix the problems we face. If this type of candidate cannot be found within the existing parties, we can only hope a strong third party will emerge. In the past this would have been almost impossible to achieve. The money to compete was just not available. The internet has the ability to change this. A grass roots party with the correct platform could keep costs at a minimum while reaching more people than any media campaign in history. The only question is do we have the type of courageous people left to mount this type of campaign?

This is America, sure we do!

Now why is the title 545? A man named Charlie Reese died in May. Charlie was a writer for the Orlando Sentinel; his column was syndicated and read world-wide. He explained this better than I could ever hope to. Here is Charlie’s article. I wish every American could read it, maybe then we would be willing to change those things that need changing.

545 vs. 300,000,000 People

Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.

Have you ever wondered if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits?

Have you ever wondered if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?

You and I don't propose a federal budget. The President does.

You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.

You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does.

You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does.

You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.

One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one President, and nine Supreme Court justices equates to 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.

I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank.

I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a President to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes.

Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.

What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits. (The President can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it.)

The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House? (John Boehner. He is the leader of the majority party. He and fellow House members, not the President, can approve any budget they want.) If the President vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to. [The House has passed a budget but the Senate has not approved a budget in over three years. The President's proposed budgets have gotten almost unanimous rejections in the Senate in that time.]

It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts -- of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.

If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair.

If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red.

If the Army & Marines are in Iraq and Afghanistan it's because they want them in Iraq and Afghanistan.

If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way.

There are no insoluble government problems.

Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power.

Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation," or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.

Those 545 people and they alone, are responsible. They and they alone, have the power.

They and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses. Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees... We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!

I saw the Doctor today

I saw the doctor today, and he saw me. It’s an annual ritual that has been going on since I was nineteen. I’m fortunate to have known this man for most of my adult life, especially the last ten years. This is a man I trust implicitly, and in turn, the others that he would send me to, which leads us to the topic of this blog.

Most of my friends know that I have been having health problems for several years. I kind of fell off the planet for several years; rarely left the house, still don’t. At the same time I stopped going out because getting around is tough, I realized part of it was I just got tired of trying to explain the problems. An explanation always brought a sympathetic response, which even well intentioned, was not something I cared for.

So to answer the question; “What the hell is wrong?” This will be the answer I will refer all askers to.

In 2005 I experienced excruciating pain that radiated through my right shoulder and chest. It was like a hot ice pick constantly being twisted. My right arm and hand became useless.  It was at this point a prominent neurologist was brought in to run tests to determine if there was a neurological reason for it. The testing confirmed that the nerves were not functioning correctly, and a medication was recommended. I spent most of 2006 in bed, as much from the side-effects of the drug as the pain. In 2007 I took a desk job and learned to deal with the pain and slowly rid myself of the medications. In 2009 the pain became body wide, non-stop, and the level went to indescribable levels. I also suffered from a lack of strength and stamina, and my hands would tremble uncontrollably.

The 2009 visit to the doctor would be the one that changed my life. I was not going to be able to work. Until we could determine what was wrong, continuing to work could cause irreversible damage. They recommended I apply for disability. Applying for disability is a subject for another blog. At this point the medical procedure to diagnose the problem is by trying different drug regimens until something works. First you build them up in your system, and then if they are ineffective or the side-effects are intolerable, you back off. Sounds like fun so far, right? So what happens when nothing works? This is where it gets interesting; you start taking drugs whose side-effects may be beneficial to your condition. Same drill, ramp up, then back down. In 2011 I made the decision to stop the medications. We had tried everything, improved nothing, and learned very little.

I would spend some time on side-effects, but I’ll make this easy. Most of the drugs came with an information pamphlet to tell you about the drug. The first page will tell you what it treats; the next ten will list possible side-effects. An important note here: many of these listed death as a side-effect. When did death become a side-effect? In honesty it might be preferable to some of the other side-effects these drugs cause.

So, to answer the question; the pain falls under the heading of Neuralgia and can be referred to as idiopathic neuropathy. The lack of stamina is caused by Myasthenia Gravis. Neither will kill me nor shorten my life expectancy. What they have done is cause me to make drastic changes in my daily life. No more buttons or zippers. Shoes and socks have been replaced with sandals and slippers. Research is used as pain management instead of drugs. On the really bad days, pain management is to stay in bed. Everything has to be taken in small steps.

I continue to have an active life, just at a much slower pace. My best weapon to combat the pain is to exercise daily, with a goal of increasing the level of exercise over a few months, possibly years. The goal is to return to work. I miss working, I miss the people. Maybe it’s just that I miss feeling useful. Maybe it’s a combination of them all.

Today’s visit doc and I reviewed the progress over the last two years, and we both agreed that some progress has been made. This is what I’d been hoping for; a glimmer of light at the end of this horrific tunnel. I wasn't willing to wait any longer; I needed the answer to the one question that haunts me daily. So I asked.  “Do you think I will ever be able to go back to work?” I wanted the truth and knew I would get it from Doc. He knew there was no need to pull punches with me. His answer you might have guessed was not what I had hoped for. He wouldn't rule it out, not impossible, but very unlikely.

Something new to come to terms with, but in reality my research has given me a head start on how I want to spend my time. The family research has led to enough information for a book. This can be the legacy I leave for my descendants. On the good days, I’ll write the book. Suddenly I’m feeling useful! My other immediate goal is to attend a car show. I miss going to the shows, but by the time I walk from parking to the show, I’m spent. The Route 66 show is in September and I plan to attend. I may not see it all, but I’m going.

One last thing and I’ll end this diatribe. If you see me out, know that I neither want nor need sympathy or pity. There are many people in this world who are much worse off than I am, and I have outlived many of my peers. I’m on top of the grass, surrounded by family and friends, sucking air and taking nourishment.

What more could a man want?

Happy Father's Day

Today we celebrate those men among us who chose to procreate. Every one of us has a father, but the lucky among us call him Dad.

For me the difference is easy to define, a father makes a baby and thinks his work is done; a dad helps to raise the child he’s made and is there to watch that child grow. He spends the next 18 years helping to protect, mold and shape his child into a responsible adult. He continues to advise his child and help in whatever way he can, long after the child has become a woman or a man. A dad’s commitment is for life. Not an easy job, but one I highly recommend.

I’m a lucky guy; I have my dad, who perfected the art, and the dad who took me into his family when I married his only daughter almost 30 years ago.

No one had to teach me how to be a dad; I spent 18 years watching an artist at work. As I look back, I am amazed at how dad juggled everything he did. I know at one time he worked three jobs and still found time to coach baseball and help with homework. Summer trips to damn near every state park that existed; sometimes before they actually did. He managed vacations to Florida, Baltimore, and D.C., a lifetime of memories that reside within me. We saw every small town in central Illinois, if they had a softball diamond and a team to play. Watching dad play softball in all of these towns was how summer weekends were spent; dad was the catcher, and man could he hit. He’s helped to raise his grandchildren and now great-grandchildren are here, and dad is still teaching me, mine, and theirs.

Now we look at dad number two, who for 30 years of my life, has been there for me too. The childhood memories are not part of this dad, but his counsel and advice have left an indelible mark on a large part of my adult life, as well as my heart. Like dad number one, he raised three children the best that he could. All became the adults that he knew that they would. The job that he did is obvious to me; I’ve spent 30 years with his daughter as my wife, a woman with morals and values, who knows how to live life. Like dad number one, he’s still teaching life’s lessons to me, mine, and theirs, a commitment they continue year after year.

So, to both of my dads, I’d like to say; “Here’s wishing you both, a Great Father’s Day!” 

I should point out that both have wonderful wives, who helped to raise us as well. I was gone over Mother’s day, their blog was not written. I would be remiss not to mention the moms’ contribution, but its Father’s Day, so they both get an honorable mention.

Love you all!

It's the Little Things....

Spending every day and night in pain is not a pleasant thing, nor is it easy to do. You make adjustments, and move forward. Retirement by disability has allowed me the time to reflect on many things; using family research as pain management has allowed me to realize that it is always the little things that matter.

I knew long before I became a father, that I would never be the father my dad was, and is. He set the bar at heights I could only hope to come close to. Upon reflection, it was always the little things that mattered the most, and he and mom made those happen.

I did a fair job with my kids, they are all adults I can be proud of, but I can’t help but think about some of the little things I might have done better. No regrets, I did the best I could knowing I would never equal my mentor.

Enter the grandchildren. Kael, now 6, and his mother Nicole have lived with my wife and I since he was 6 months old. Kael is Autistic; specifically he has Asperger’s Syndrome. Highly intelligent, socially awkward; most of his days are pre-planned by him, and breaking that schedule can create havoc.

Kael’s cousin Hadley is Jesse’s 2 ½ year old daughter. She is also very intelligent for her age, and loves spending time with Kael.

When Hadley last visited, she went to Kael’s toy box, picked out a book, and took it over to Kael. She asked him to read it to her. He dropped everything and sat down next to her and began to read her the book. Nobody else on the planet could get Kael’s attention that quickly. She had picked a doozy. The top paragraph on each page was to be read, the bottom paragraph was to be sung. Kael read and sang the entire book, much to Hadley’s delight, and mine.

It’s the little things….

Kael graduates kindergarten this morning. He is at the top of his class. In fairness, I don't think there was much new to him in kindergarten. He had a very good year, but towards the end, during review, boredom led to some behavioral problems. I made him a deal; 10 good days at school and the year would be over. Give me 10 good days and I'll have a big surprise for you. He stuck to our deal and brought home awards in reading and math to boot. So tonight, he got his surprise early; a new android tablet. He was very pleased and excited. And then it happened….

I received a spontaneous bear hug and he said “You're the best grandpa anyone could ever have.”

It’s the little things….

The Election in Southern View

     I want to start by congratulating the trustees elected to office in the election.  The outcome of the election was no surprise, as there were three candidates for three seats. I’ll get back to the outcome; because it turns out it was not what would be expected.

     A few things should be pointed out before we analyze the results.  For the first time that anyone can remember, there was no announcement in the village bulletin letting residents know when election packets were available, nor when the deadline was to turn in the packet.  There was no mention of the election in the last bulletin, no reminder to vote, nothing.  There was however a recipe for some type of baked goods that was so memorable, what it was, slips my mind. I checked the village web-site to see what information was available; nothing.  The election is not even on the village calendar.  The point being, it was almost like the village board didn’t want us to know about the election.

     In fairness, the election board does not require the village to publish this information in the bulletin, or even post it in the office.  It is suggested that they do both, but not required.  The question is why they changed the policy of including this information in the bulletin.

     So, let’s get back to those election results.  We have three candidates running unopposed and two are incumbents.

     There are 1263 registered voters in the village. Of those, 148 or 11.21 percent cast ballots. Let’s break down those votes and see what we find.

James Foster – 102 votes, 46 under votes.

Greg Bourland – 104 votes, 44 under votes.

Gregory Hashman – 102 votes, 46 under votes.

Total under votes – 136

     What is an under vote?  Here is where it gets interesting; an under vote means that the voter did not vote for anyone in the race.  Their choice, given the candidates, was none of the above. That is a message the board should not ignore.  The real question is; will any of them understand it?

     I wonder if it makes the win less gratifying knowing you were all beat by none of the above.