Sunday, October 2, 2011

Put A Tourniquet On Health Care Costs

With the economy collapsing all around us & the major emphasis centered around re-elections,increased banking fees,fraudulent investment & monopolistic energy practices,we sometimes fail to see the unabated daily greed and milking of basic human needs & services before our very eyes.

As part of a recent routine preventative annual medical physical, a fasting blood panel was`ordered to measure cholesterol,TSH,PSA,lipids & tryglceride levels.After less than a five minute procedure,I handed over my medical insurance card & went happily on my way.Two weeks later I was`shocked to receive a billing invoice from the lab service company that is contracted by my family primary-care provider.The total cost of the service was $ 456. of which my insurance would authorize only a 70 % payment & I was billed the balance.

With thousands of these routine prescribed lab services & tests being processed daily, it is no wonder that health insurance costs have escalated to unprecedented levels & the demand for more tax dollars continues to grow to help fund those who have lost-or cannot afford-any medical insurance.

Let's stop worrying more about political smoke & mirror promises,planes,cars,banking, & executive bonuses & start yelling at our legislators to put a "tourniquet" on & stop this bleeding of our basic life & health needs by these unscrupulous predators.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

"Act 138 " Ephrata Boro, Pa.-- Taxation w/o Representation &/or Municipal Monopoly ?

If your like myself with money being tight , an economy thats fragile , future costs sky-rocketing , e.g. utilities,taxes,licence fees,tolls,insurance,health costs ,tuitions & credit loan rates etc., & wages becoming frozen, with continued job & hourly reductions ,then hopefully you are as concerned as I & are willing to join your neighbors , fellow taxpayers , & boro residents, in helping to revise or have repealed " Act 138 " of Ephrata Boro passed quietly without public vote in 1996.

 Simply put this act allows the boro to purchase electricity on our behalf , at rates we could otherwise buy ourselves , as most residents in Pa. are now permitted , with the deregulation & open competitive legislation enacted in law , & monitored by the Pa. PUC & the office of the Pa State Consumer Advocate.The boro then sells that purchase back to you & I at surcharged higher rates  (varies by KWH used ) & puts that "profit" ( hidden tax ) in a common building fund ,to be spent at their choosing ,under the guise of whats best for our quality of life & public betterment.This is fact , & we are paying  more of  our hard earned dollars that we could spend ourselves on lifes needs & personal obligations.We should & do have the right to vote & determine where our taxes are spent.They do not call it a tax but in my opinion it is "de facto " a  hidden tax , or if not , then I believe its an unconstitutional municipal business profit without you or I having a vote as to how its spent.

This distribution sale is also in my opinion a "Municipal Monoply ", that I also question its "de facto " legitimacy.If we discount the prior interpretations I believe we sure can say its "Taxation "w/o  representation.My opinion is such because we pay the same taxes to support our state agencies as all other Pennsylvanians , but do not get the protection & services as they do.Thats correct.The Pa. "PUC" cannot regulate Ephrata Boro as "Act 138 " prohibits , & we are literally held "hostage " to our boroughs rate charges.With this in mind you would hope our current council leadership in todays difficult economic times would repeal or amend this distribution, & allow us the same purchasing & savings rights as Pa. legislation allows most other citizens under the " Electric Choice Program " if we so wish.
I believe this action defines the mindset & disregard our political systems today , have for our rights, our money, & our childrens future, in favor of their personal interest spending wishs & agendas.We can & we must stop this.We the people have put these individuals in office to represent our needs & demands , & we the people can  remove them.We must stand & be heard , & demand that "Act 138 " (1996) be revised or repealed, & that we as taxpayers demand the same rights & protection as other state citizens are receiving from all our state agencies, e.g. the  " PUC" that our taxes are supporting.I hope your feelings are similar to my own & that we make it clear that we will not continue paying this "hidden tax " any longer , &  will make it known at the "ballot " box.The time has come to stop these political dealings & the further erosion of our individual freedoms . Give the council another chance , to stand up with integrity, protect our rights, & to manage our money prudently.If they choose not to, then we must join together  & remove them at election time.

We can change " City Hall "  &   We must change " City Hall " !!!

Saturday, August 20, 2011

" We Can Change City Hall "

Throughout my life I cannot count the times when I or others,felt that  our local government was out of sorts on a given issue, & acting in interests other than our own.I can remember when I first became confused about our "republic" form of democracy taught in American history class , when I challenged a local representative as to why a certain outdated issue still existed , &  that nobody appeared interested in reviewing or changing , if found not in our current best interest.My concern was met with a cold & curt answer ," You can't fight City Hall ", & trust that its in your best interest.Am I alone,or can you also recall a similar experience? For years I let it go because I was wrapped up with my own self interest of raising a family , building a career , & investing & saving for retirement.I now admit to feeling guilty ,because by not monitoring & keeping a watch on our politicians ,the inevitable erosion of our individual freedoms ,& the inherent misuse of power & self interest ,would eventually create the turmoils & economic conditions we are living today.Our republic was founded on the need for regular checks & balances to keep its integrity strong ,& our freedoms ongoing.I up to now have failed by not actively becoming involved with civic matters, however I know its now time to change.Yes! we can fight " City Hall ", & Yes ! we also can change it.We the people are in fact " City Hall ". It's ours & if we want it changed then we need to change it.Yes I mean change it ,because we in fact can.We are told we can't because the politicians we created know historically that we go away ,& never unify our common beliefs & objections, & never vote to change.We keep putting in the same ineffective self serving political individuals, who create a career office for themselves & work solely for their re-elections & own agendas , rather then represent our wants & needs, for which we elected & gave them our trust to do just that.To do for us & not themselves.
I took notice over my lifes experience that one way to motivate a politician is to threaten or give him or her the impression that their tenure is about to end , & that they will now be subject to their past actions ,& have to live with them as we do.It truly turns them 180 degrees at times & I laugh watching them stammer, turn on each other, deny any accountability, demonstrate spineless character ,& actually makes me feel sorry at  times for their pitifulness.We the people can & must now change this out of control & costly ineffective local government.Our senior citizens & our children ,& their children , need us to step up & do what has been long ignored. We must " Stand " & voice our dissatisfaction ,& demand to be " Heard " & change " City Hall " , & Yes ! fight it if me must.We the people must join together & vote together ,& put that fear in our representatives that their tenures are about to expire ,& hopefully they will hear our words & know that the "parties" are over.We the people are taking back ownership of our domain.
  • It's not to late & its not impossible.We can & we must start the movement.Once started I have faith & belief in my neighbors & fellow americans, that we will win & start revitalizing & rebuilding our towns & city's & country ,& bring it back to the grand nation of freedom , liberty, quality of life ,& opportunity we & our families & forefathers sacrificed & fought to create & preserve.