Free Republic

I have yet to see anyone other than myself open carry in Overland Park, let alone the 18 year old being called into question my Mary Sanchez.

those were the days!!

the math is off by a million.

300 million each getting a 1 million would cost 30 gradtrillion dollars.

Please don’t give Obama any ideas.

the math is off by a million.

300 million each getting a 1 million would cost 30 gradtrillion dollars.

Please don’t give Obama any ideas.

btt

btt

She is worthy of your support.

thank for the ping - Damnit, Chloe, too bad not tonight.

A man and his wife were blessed by the birth of triplet daughters. With this blessing coming later in life, they named the girls Autumn, Summer and Winter. Amazed by the miracle they vowed to use all of their being to raise, educate and nurture their daughters.

Beginning at a young age they taught the girls the values: charity, courage, gratitude, honesty, hope, humility, moderation, respect, responsibility, sincerity, thrift and work. These life lessons were given with love and compassion.

The girls embraced these values with open arms and grew to become beautiful vibrant young ladies. As life would have it, a day came when the daughters announced that they were ready to go out on their own. They had decided to go in separate directions taking the values learned and make their own mark on the world.

Summer headed west, Autumn east and Winter stayed near home. On their own they begin to get a taste of the world. After a while, they each met a man, fell in love and looked forward to marriage. Before their weddings, the girls queried of their beloveds, the man's feeling regarding the values they were raised upon.

Summer's young man agreed that the values were nice and sounded good, but indicated more fun could be had if the values were ignored. Summer was conflicted, but love and lust overcame the value decision. She and her young man were married and began their lives to together. Together they set out to live the life of free spirit without responsibilities.

Together they begged, cheated, lied and stole to survive. As times became worse and need for money greater, Summer was given by her husband to other men for their pleasure.

Eventually, Summer’s husband grew tired of her, and in a fit of rage he beat her and left her to die. In a single grasp, Summer’s life had ended. The man and his wife never heard from Summer again.

On the other hand, Autumn’s young man embraced and declared his support for the values held dear to her heart. Proud Autumn called home and told the man and his wife about the nice man and their decision to be wed. Autumn and her husband began their life together and set to make a mark on the world.

Autumn’s husband got a job working for a powerful firm that provided them a good income. Autumn thought was life was good. Then there was a dire change.

Autumn’s husband began to ignore the values she revered. Unexplained sums of money were found hidden in the home. Mysterious phone calls were received in the middle of night. Meetings were held with people unknown to her. She found lipstick on his shirt collar.

Autumn confronted her husband, he denied any wrong doing. He said “You enjoy the benefits of my work. I do what I have to do to keep my job.” Autumn agreed and dismissed her concerns.

Later, Autumn awoke one morning feeling ill. She went to the doctor. After the examination, the doctor told her she had been poisoned. Autumn was aghast. Questions raced through her mind. How? When? Where? Who? The doctor told her the poison was placed in her food and that the tampered had occurred over a long period of time.

Not knowing what to Autumn called the man and his wife to seek counsel. Autumn was told by those that loved her, to leave her husband and never seem him again. Autumn argued with the justifications for keeping her husband.

Not satisfied with the opinion of the man and his wife, Autumn sought out the opinions of her friends. Each of them counseled that her husband was good, perhaps just misdirected and if confronted he return to the values Autumn cherished. Not thinking, Autumn failed to realize that her friends were her husband’s friend.

Once again Autumn confronted her husband and once again he denied any wrongdoing and said the he lives the same values. Autumn again gave in and accepted his explanations. Autumn did not know that her husband was actually lying about everything.

After a while Autumn, sensed things were still not right and began to investigate. She found that her husband had been lying to her. She confronted him once again. This time he grew angry, said he was growing tired of her accusations, beat her violently and left her for dead. In a single gasp, Autumn’s life had ended. The man and his wife never heard from Autumn again.

Winter’s young man , from a young age had been taught by his parents with love and compassion the values: charity, courage, gratitude, honesty, hope, humility, moderation, respect, responsibility, sincerity, thrift and work, shared the values Winter held dear to her heart. Winter returned home with her young man. The young man met the man and his wife, asked for the hand of Winter in marriage and received their blessing.

Winter and her husband lived a long prosperous live, while holding strong to the values: charity, courage, gratitude, honesty, hope, humility, moderation, respect, responsibility, sincerity, thrift and work. They too were blessed with the birth of triplet daughters. The man and his wife enjoyed seeing their daughter become a wonderful mother.

The question left by the story is why and is this truly a parable.

Looking further, and putting into our current context here are the cast of characters:

Man – Life

His Wife – Liberty

Their Marriage – The pursuit of happiness and the foundation of our nation

Their daughters – We the People

Autumn’s young man – Democratic candidates

Summer’s young man – Republican candidates

Winter’s young man – Unaffiliated candidates

Can pay $550 month for insurance. No one is refusing to let her get insurance.

It is all about choice.

She chose to move to the wrong state.

:)

In the meanwhile, make them pay, click the link often.

excellent pics - great work.

SEC. 123. HEALTH BENEFITS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

(a) Establishment-

(1) IN GENERAL- There is established a private-public advisory committee which shall be a panel of medical and other experts to be known as the Health Benefits Advisory Committee to recommend covered benefits and essential, enhanced, and premium plans.

(2) CHAIR- The Surgeon General shall be a member and the chair of the Health Benefits Advisory Committee.

(3) MEMBERSHIP- The Health Benefits Advisory Committee shall be composed of the following members, in addition to the Surgeon General:

Total of no more than 28 members

(A) 9 members who are not Federal employees or officers and who are appointed by the President.

pay back for political favors - doing the bidding of the President

(B) 9 members who are not Federal employees or officers and who are appointed by the Comptroller General of the United States in a manner similar to the manner in which the Comptroller General appoints members to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission under section 1805(c) of the Social Security Act.

pay back for political favors - appointed by CG at the direction of the President

(C) Such even number of members (not to exceed 8) who are Federal employees and officers, as the President may appoint.

pay back for political favors - doing the bidding of the President

Such initial appointments shall be made not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

no Congressional or Judical oversight, more rush to make it happen

(4) TERMS- Each member of the Health Benefits Advisory Committee shall serve a 3-year term on the Committee, except that the terms of the initial members shall be adjusted in order to provide for a staggered term of appointment for all such members.

pay this allows carryover into next administration with out risk of replacement. No provision requiring members to be limited to one term

(5) PARTICIPATION- The membership of the Health Benefits Advisory Committee shall at least reflect providers, consumer representatives, employers, labor, health insurance issuers, experts in health care financing and delivery, experts in racial and ethnic disparities, experts in care for those with disabilities, representatives of relevant governmental agencies. and at least one practicing physician or other health professional and an expert on children's health and shall represent a balance among various sectors of the health care system so that no single sector unduly influences the recommendations of such Committee.

missing from the list is the patient and taxpayer. Acorn and the unions are represented. Vague enough to allow nearly anyone to be appointed. Experts is healthcare financing and delivery

(b) Duties- (1) RECOMMENDATIONS ON BENEFIT STANDARDS- The Health Benefits Advisory Committee shall recommend to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this subtitle referred to as the `Secretary') benefit standards (as defined in paragraph (4)), and periodic updates to such standards. In developing such recommendations, the Committee shall take into account innovation in health care and consider how such standards could reduce health disparities.

Committee can only make recommendations, Sec. HHS is not required to review or adopt recommendations.

(2) DEADLINE- The Health Benefits Advisory Committee shall recommend initial benefit standards to the Secretary not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act.

once again rush, rush , rush. Reform and overall in real sense will take multiple years.

(3) PUBLIC INPUT- The Health Benefits Advisory Committee shall allow for public input as a part of developing recommendations under this subsection.

public input allowed but not required

(4) BENEFIT STANDARDS DEFINED- In this subtitle, the term `benefit standards' means standards respecting-- (A) the essential benefits package described in section 122, including categories of covered treatments, items and services within benefit classes, and cost-sharing; and (B) the cost-sharing levels for enhanced plans and premium plans (as provided under section 203(c)) consistent with paragraph (5).

(5) LEVELS OF COST-SHARING FOR ENHANCED AND PREMIUM PLANS-

(A) ENHANCED PLAN- The level of cost-sharing for enhanced plans shall be designed so that such plans have benefits that are actuarially equivalent to approximately 85 percent of the actuarial value of the benefits provided under the reference benefits package described in section 122(c)(3)(B).

(B) PREMIUM PLAN- The level of cost-sharing for premium plans shall be designed so that such plans have benefits that are actuarially equivalent to approximately 95 percent of the actuarial value of the benefits provided under the reference benefits package described in section 122(c)(3)(B).

(c) Operations-

(1) PER DIEM PAY- Each member of the Health Benefits Advisory Committee shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, and shall otherwise serve without additional pay.

This provision allows for only political hacks and wealthy to be on committee as there is not ordinary compensation

(2) MEMBERS NOT TREATED AS FEDERAL EMPLOYEES- Members of the Health Benefits Advisory Committee shall not be considered employees of the Federal government solely by reason of any service on the Committee.

(3) APPLICATION OF FACA- The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.), other than section 14, shall apply to the Health Benefits Advisory Committee.

(d) Publication- The Secretary shall provide for publication in the Federal Register and the posting on the Internet website of the Department of Health and Human Services of all recommendations made by the Health Benefits Advisory Committee under this section.

Only requirement for recommemdations is publication, all healthcare still left to the discretion of Sec. HHS per remainder of the bill

btt

very cute! excellent

What a dumBass.

Zero asks “Where is TOTUS?”

Way to go, Mike.

for later