From USA TODAY
The ObamaCare train wreck: Column
If Democrats keep blaming Republicans, millions of Americans will suffer.
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It doesn’t seem like I should be 64 years old. When you count my 4 years in high school and teaching another 32 years in high school, I didn’t really graduate until 2006. By the math I use, I am actually 25. To imagine I was born in the first half of the 20th century and now I am here in the second decade of the 21st century sure causes me to reflect upon the changes I have seen.
Some of you may wonder why the picture of the squirrel? Simple, I like squirrels. You know, I feel better when I see a rabbit or a squirrel to start my day. I admire them because they have such a simple life. I don’t think the rabbits and squirrels try to dedicate their lives to being the most important rabbit or squirrel in the neighbor. We could learn a lot from a squirrel.
Yes, I can proudly say I was a cotton pickin’ southern boy. My Grandfather Hartline gave me my first paying job. I still remember the south of the 1950′s. I learned the value of hard work from my Grandfather. I also learned about how things are not what they always appear to be. I worked in those cotton fields with my brothers and black women. My Grandfather paid those women the same wages he paid me. Actually, he paid them more because they could do more. You were paid by the pound so the more you picked, the more you made. The most I ever picked was 200 pounds which translated into $6.00 for 12 hours of work. My Grandfather called all the women by their first name, i.e. Miss Betty, Miss Sally, etc. He was kind and gentle toward them and I never observed anything disrespectful. He also admired their work ethic. The women commonly picked 300 pounds per day in less time than it took me to do the 180-200 pounds. I didn’t get extra money because I was a Grandson. To outsiders it might have appeared that my Grandfather took advantage of the labors of those black ladies. He didn’t care what color they were, he just needed the cotton picked! He was one of the last cotton farmers that “hand-picked” cotton. That was a business decision since he got more money at the cotton gin for hand-picked cotton than machine picked.
I miss my Grandfather as much today as I did when he passed away in 1982. I learned about hard work, tolerance, and the value of a simple life. I feel sorry for kids who are growing up without a Grandfather in their life. Outside of faith in God, family is the most important part of any life. My Grandmother and Grandfather Hartline raised a family during the depression years. They passed the value of hard work and family to their kids. As I watch God and family disappear from American Culture I will fondly remember the days of my youth, spending time with a Grandfather that taught me so much without every saying a word. The powerful example of a young boy observing a real man making a living out of the dirt of the ground. Thank you Granddaddy…..
Clarence Thomas has my respect. He has taken a lot of heat because he doesn’t follow the lead of other black leaders. He has little regard for political correctness. The media loves the “shorthand” of political correctness. PC allows them to quickly label someone a “hater” or “bigot”. We as Americans no longer have freedom of speech. Our “intent” is determined by our use of the pc vocabulary not by the context and content of our words. The media gives a “get out of trouble free card” to liberals, gays, militant women, and blacks who are democrats. Clarence Thomas doesn’t drink the kool-aid and play his “black card”.
Today we celebrate the National Day of Prayer. Millions of Christians throughout this land are on their knees; lifting their voices to the God who has blessed and protected America. Before you go to bed tonight, pray to Jesus Christ to annoint believers everywhere to reach out to a dying America. May His Will be done.
I see J. C. Penney has decided that the almighty dollar is more important than appealing to a small minority . People have a choice where to buy the stuff they need. I would think you would want to appeal to the largest group of people to sell your stuff. I know some people think it is “progressive” and “modern” to be politicly correct but PC makes it almost impossible to debate any issue. As for J.C. Penney, they lost me years ago. If you don’t know what I am referring to, check out this link:
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2012/06/15/out-of-the-closet.html
The liberal mind is a dangerous thing. The cheap way to “buy” votes is to use tax dollars. The more people you have dependent on the government, the more voters you have to vote for you. I’m starting to feel that no one should have the right to vote is they don’t pay federal tax. Even if you pay $1.00 in federal tax you should be able to vote but if you don’t pay anything why should you have a right to vote?
Thanks President Obama. Your foreign policy under Hillary Clinton is paying major dividends for the people of Iraq. It is just a matter of time until another tyrant controls the country. If all goes according to plan, Hillary will be elected and she can send US forces back into Iraq to kick out the bad guys.
http://www.theatlanticwire.com/global/2013/05/iraq-just-had-its-deadliest-month-5-years/64801/
In order to change the Heath Care debate we need to focus away from rights without responsibility. Our constitution was never meant to provide free services without responsibility. Rights do not exist without someone fighting to defend them and citizens being willing to pay their fair share.
Everyone would be covered under some heath care plan. People currently happy with their insurance will be able to retain it. People without coverage would use a graduated plan from a minimum amount to 100% of the premium. Small businesses should receive help from the heath care fund to cover workers making less than $20.00 per hour.
I have been thinking about the problems of paying for health care for everyone. One of the problems I see is the cost associated with lifestyles each person chooses. The current ObamaCare Healthcare Plan makes no effort to reward people for living a health conscious life style. Should people who make an effort to eat right, exercise, and avoid lifestyles that impact their health pay less for health insurance? What do you think of a plan that would work sometime like this:
The costs below would be paid by 100% of the population. These fees and fines would go into the General Healthcare Fund to pay for people who can not afford insurance costs. The increase co-pays and deductibles could be charged by any insurance company to the people who desire to keep their current provider. The amounts recovered from the lifestyle choices would reduce the costs for the other enrollees in the health plan. Companies would be encouraged to recruit people living healthy lifestyles. Much in the same way car insurance companies charge drivers with poor driving records, medical insurance companies would charge a premium for lifestyle choices.
Paying for alcohol and drug heath costs:
Sexual life style costs
Criminal activity
Tort Reform
Obesity related health care
These ideas are just a starting place. I am sure they could be simplified into a general lifestyle choices. Of course, people who live in poverty often make the poorest choices in lifestyle. Programs should be developed that encourage making wise decisions on tobacco and alcohol products, sexual activity, and criminal activity. Private companies should do most of this work.
Join me as I pray for healing for our nation:
Heavenly Father we ask you to bless the leaders of the United States. Give President Obama and Vice-President Biden wisdom and discernment as they lead our nation into a new season. Bless their families and all their advisers as they deal with the challenges facing the United States of America. We ask blessing over all of our elected leaders serving in Washington DC. Please give them a new sense of cooperation to work for solutions that benefit our citizens. May your will be done in all areas of our government. We ask that you use our national leaders to heal the division that so often separates our people. We pray blessings over all of your children you have placed in positions of responsibility. Please protect them from those who try to cause division.
Now all glory to God, who is able to keep us from falling away and will bring us with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen. 
This is a great Christian view of the recent election. We have been called to such a time as this. We believe in the power of prayer and the love of Jesus Christ. We have nothing to fear when we put our faith in the power of Jesus Christ.
The is a clip from today’s Lifenotes Class at Christ Church Nashvile.
Share this video with everyone. We stand on His promises. We will love those who hate us, pray for those who lead us, and stand shoulder to shoulder when necessary to defend our faith. We will not compromise on these three things……