Sarah Palin

This is an open letter to Sarah "Pro-American" Palin:

"Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin told a fundraiser in Greensboro, North Carolina, on Thursday night:
"We believe that the best of America is in the small towns that we get to visit, and in the wonderful little pockets of what I call the real America, being here with all of you hard-working, very patriotic, very pro-America areas of this great nation," she said. "*

Dear Sarah,

Hi, I'm not from small town America, but that doesn't mean that I'm not pro-American. I don't believe we should've started a war in Iraq, but that doesn't mean I don't support our troops and it doesn't mean I don't love my country.

I believe that a woman should have the right to choose -- if only to prevent back alley abortions that do no good for anyone. And, I'm pro-American.

I believe that assault weapons are not needed by anyone, but law enforcement and military and I'm pro-American.

I've never been in a beauty contest and I'm pro-American.

I don't hunt and I'm pro-American.

I am the daughter, granddaughter and cousin of war veterans and I'm pro-American.

Real America isn't just in the small towns of America. Real America exists everywhere in our 50 states -- you do know there are 50 states, Sarah, right? It isn't all just Alaska.

The rest of the country should be insulted by your remarks.

God Bless, Sarah, you're going to need it.

* - taken from CNN.com.

Protesters and Veterans

I saw on YouTube and on another blog that Palin tried to quiet down "protesters" only to be told they were supporters wanting her to speak louder. Also, turns out that the "protesters" were calling out "Sarah." I saw a couple of versions of the YouTube video and Palin doesn't look happy. Now, a lot of people of making a big deal that Palin was so goofy that she can't tell supporters from protesters, but in what will probably be the only time I ever defend her, I don't think it's fair. Palin is being protested everywhere, I'm gathering, and if you or I were in the same position, we might make the same mistake. Since people sitting behind her appeared to understand what the crowd was yelling and Palin didn't, it is quite possible that she just can't hear as well as other people can.

Anyway, while I understand why Palin felt the need to "punish" the protesters, I don't understand why she said what she said. From what I can gather, she was at a regular campaign stop. She wasn't at a Veteran's Rally, yet she said, "I would hope at least that those protesters have the courage and the honor of thanking our veterans for giving them the right to protest."

What's that all about?

I love my country and I support my troops, so why is it if I protest someone running for President somehow I need to thank a Vet? I don't get it. Is Palin saying by protesting her someone it is a slap in the face to a veteran?

Now, I've never served in the military -- as far as I know -- neither has Palin. If I was being protested, I wouldn't make a remark like that. Yes, I know, her son is going to Iraq, well, so are a lot of mothers' sons. Some of those mothers are not going to vote for McCain/Palin. Some of those mothers might even stand out in the sun and protest McCain and/or Palin.

Should those mothers thank a Vet?

And, then, I wonder, when was the last time Sarah Palin actually walked up to a man or woman in uniform and thanked them? I can tell you the last time I did. October 4th -- I ran into an Army SGT in Mitchell International Airport. I'm sure he thought I was a little nuts, but I thanked him for his service. When I saw him later waiting for a ride, I offered him one.

When was the last time she shook a Veteran's hand and thanked them for fighting in Vietnam or whatever war they fought in? I can tell you the last time I did. Well, I didn't shake his hand, I gave him a hug. It was September 19th (actually, early morning on the 20th). We walked out of the Last Chance Saloon at the same time and I gave him a hug.

Now, handshakes and hugs aren't really enough to thank our Vets for the service they gave our country, but it is better than nothing.

I just find it so offensive when someone makes the uneducated assumption that people who protest somehow don't care or don't honor our Veterans.

I can understand Palin's mistake in not hearing the crowd yell, "Sarah!" and realizing it was for her and not against her. But, I can't understand how she can equate protesters to someone who is truly un-American and doesn't support our troops.

God Bless

PS. In case you think I'm being too hard on her -- I didn't blog about how wrong her remark was -- The military DEFENDS our rights, they don't GIVE us our rights.

McCain's Health Plan

Right now I work for an employer that #1. Doesn't know how to get the best deal for their employees for healthcare and #2. would love it if they didn't have to provide health insurance for their 5,000 plus employees. I purchase the highest health plan and that means I pay more in premiums than some of my co-workers. I don't use the HSA, so I can have a better health plan and I do use the FSA. I don't have a lot of health issues. I do have asthma and thank goodness I haven't had to use my healthcare much because my healthcare plan sucks. Believe me, when I leave this job it will be for two reasons and one of them is the lousy insurance.

I've heard of jobs where the pay is a little lower, but the benefits packages (tuition reimbursement, healthcare, etc.) are excellent. These positions have made me stop and think about whether I would jump ship to gain better benefits, but not gain much more in money.

Let me say this: I don't want the government supplying me with healthcare -- I want my employer subsdizing it. Right now, one of the few tax breaks I get is the pre-tax healthcare benefit for which I pay $84.49 per month or $1013.88 per year. Remember, this is completely tax free.

McCain wants to take that little tax break away. According to CNN Money, the amount my employer pays "would become taxable income. But anyone who buys insurance would receive a refundable tax credit worth $2,500 per person ($5,000 per family). That's a dollar-for-dollar reduction of your tax bill, or, if you don't have a tax bill, a dollar-for-dollar increase in the amount of money Uncle Sam would send your way."

Except it isn't. Right now, my employer pays $276.82 per month or $3321.84 per year. Under McCain's plan, I'll be taxed on that amount. So, I won't get the out of pocket pre-tax break and now my income will look like it has gone up and I'll be paying even more in taxes. But, McCain gets to tell you that he's offering you a tax break. Let's take a look at that.

McCain wants to give a single person a tax credit (and by the way, there's a difference between a tax deduction and a tax credit. A tax credit reduces what you owe and a tax deduction reduces the amount on which you pay) a total of $2,500. So, if I purchase the insurance I have now, it will cost me $4335.72 -- because the tax break is only for those people who buy their own insurance. The government will be giving me $2500 back, bringing my grand total to $1835.72, which is not only $821.84 more than I pay out of pocket now, but it's all taxed, which adds to the amount that I give back to the government.

Let's just see how much more someone who makes $50,000 a year will pay our government and for health insurance.

I'm using last year's tax tables and I'm going to make the assumption that I'm still allowed to put tax free money into flexiben, which'll keep some figures the same. I'm, also, assuming that I can even purchase the insurance and maintain at least the same coverage for the same price as my employer, but we know that won't be true. Also, keep in mind, your salary goes up on your Federal form, it goes up on your state form. (And, yeah, I know, some states don't have income tax. Bully for you.)

Under the current system, taking off the $1,013.88 for current healthcare costs and $2,500 for Flexiben a single person's taxable income (with no deductions, but the standard) is $41,136.12. The tax amount is $6,705.00. That comes to 16.29% for Federal Tax. And, I've only paid $1,013.88 for healthcare.

Now, the new system:
$50,000.00 salary
$ 2,500.00 flexiben
$ 5,350.00 standard deduction
$42,150.00 taxable income

$6,955.00 taxable amount

My tax amount is now $250.00 higher under the new system. I'm now taxed at the higher amount of 16.50%. Oh, wait, I did forget to take the tax credit off.

Okay, now, I'm paying $4,455.00 in Federal income tax. That's a lowering of my taxes by just under 6%. Hey, that sounds pretty good, doesn't it?

Except my state income tax rate is 6.5%. Under the old system, I report $41,136.12 in income and I'm taxed: $2,673.84. Under the new system, I report $42,150.00 in income and I'm taxed: $2,739.75. A difference of $65.91. So, now, I've paid more in taxes -- not much more, but still more AND I've paid more for my insurance coverage: $821.84 more.

And, what did I get for it? $821.84 could pay for a new laptop or pay for a gifts for my grandsons. Maybe, I might give that money to charity.

But, who benefits?

My employer. They now get to save $3321.84 and if you think they'll pass that savings on to me in the form of a raise -- think again. It goes in their pocket. Multiply that by 5,000 employees and they've saved $16,609,200.00. It isn't going to be in the employees' pockets -- I can guarntee you that. Some companies might be willing to pass the savings along, but most won't and you know they won't.

You know who else benefits?

The insurance companies. They can then charge me more for insurance because I'm no longer a part of a group.

You know who won't benefit?

American workers. They'll have even less in their pockets than they do now. According to McCain, that'll be a good thing. But, then, the Republicans are acting like our country is chugging along just fine and we don't need to fix it. Life is good. And, if you think the economy is bad, you have a mental condition.

Someone recently called me a single issue voter, but I'm not. I have loads of reasons for no longer backing McCain. His ideas are not good for me. Ask yourself, are they going to be good for you?

God Bless

Jailing Journalists?

Say it isn't so. I received an email from a respected organization. This is insane. This is America.

Jailing journalists is unacceptable in a democracy. But that's exactly what is happening at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Award winning journalist and host of "Democracy Now" Amy Goodman was arrested by St. Paul police while covering a protest outside the Republican National Convention. Though clearly identified as press, Goodman was charged with "obstruction of a legal process and interference with a 'peace officer.'" Two of her producers were arrested for "suspicion of felony riot."
To tell you that this arrest was brutal and upsetting simply doesn't do it justice. Watch this video to see for yourself. Then take action.
I just e-mailed the presidents of CNN and NBC News (which oversees MSNBC) to demand that their networks cover this important story. I hope you will too.
Please have a look and take action.
http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/dont_arrest_journalists/?r_by=803-699154-_2EakGx&rc=paste
While the flag waving is going on inside the convention, a threat to democracy is taking place outside.

God Bless us everyone

Again with the Economy

Perhaps, I'm missing something. I'm reading this week's Time magazine and they've included a voter's guide to Obama and McCain's plans for the economy. Under Obama's plan, he would end Bush's tax cuts for families making more than $250,000 (with which I agree), raise the capital gains tax and give tax credits to singles and families. McCain wants to make Bush's tax cuts permanent (which I oppose), reduce the corporate tax (as I mentioned last week) and here's a new one -- "He may be open to the possibility of a higher Social Security payroll tax." What does that mean?
8% of my salary goes to Social Security. Is he going to raise that? And, with that raise, is he going to guarntee that Social Security will be there when I retire? Or, is he going to lift the cap, so that those earning more than $92,000 a year pay on their whole salary? I would support lifting the cap.
Think about it. If you make $50,000 per year, you pay Social Security on that whole amount. That comes to $4,000 or 8%. If you make $100,000 a year, you pay only on $92,000, which comes to $7,360 or 7.36% of your salary. So, percentage wise, the person who earns less pays more than the person who earns the most. Does that seem fair to you?

God Bless