By now, everyone has heard of the "Cash for Clunkers" program, and what a "Over-whelming" success it has been.
Check this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0IcIxhd8ks
If you are even a little-bit of a "gearhead" this will strike you as a horrible waste.
And it is. This "helpful" government program is succeeding in removing viable transportation from the less-than-wealthy...most of the cars/trucks/vans being traded would easily serve as solid transportation, or even the "first decent car with A/C AND power windows" for many.
I had hoped to hear the program had ended today, and the idiocy halted. But the government is involved, so of course the logical will not happen.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Health Insurance Companies = GREED
As the debate in Washington DC drags on about the BROKEN health care system, perhaps it would be useful to remind everyone why the current Health care system is not working, and perhaps even remind everyone of one of the root causes of the current recession.
Is everyone paying attention? This may have gone unnoticed by some, given the news flowing from Wall Street, large corporations, and major banks. And the various antics of "Overpaid Imbeciles" pretending to be politicians that "care" about us.
We got to where we are because of a human trait, something that I have noticed is not being labeled properly when the various "experts" offer their opinions on the matter.
GREED. Human greed helped push us to where we are.
Albert Einstein has been quoted as saying "Two things are infinite. The universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe." I tend to agree on the stupidity, I witness things everyday that seem to affirm that human stupidity is expanding at an exponential rate.
I would like to propose an expansion of that quote, a "Dredwolfism", if you will. I highly doubt I will ever be in "Quotable Quotes", but you never know. So here it goes....
"Three things are infinite. The universe, human stupidity, and human greed; and I'm not sure about the universe. Natural selection can nullify stupidity with a little time, but greed? It is eternal."
Those that have been "victims of the current economic downturn" and are trying to find some type of health insurance coverage for their families while looking for work know what I am talking about. COBRA coverage is ludicrous...In my case, for +$1310/month, I could have health coverage for my family...but my unemployment benefit (which I had never used before) could not cover the COBRA premium. Nor could I choose to reduce benefits. And spare me the whole "You are just now covering what your employer paid for your health insurance" argument, please. If such is truly the case, then many companies would be losing money at an astronomical rate, which should have reduced those executive bonuses quite a bit. Unless all companies simply variants of AIG and we simply have not noticed yet.
The company administering COBRA for my former employer had a "take it or leave it" attitude when I tried to ask about options, it did not take a calculator to determine that COBRA coverage would take my ENTIRE unemployment check, plus a few dollars more. If I could afford over $1300/month for health insurance, I would not consider myself in need of a job OR unemployment funds!
And COBRA is supposed to be a program to HELP those that lose their jobs? This "help" is putting me in a situation trying to choose what is most important for my family's survival, how is any of this actually HELPING?
How is putting someone into a position trying to choose if health insurance should be more important than food, shelter, power, water, or transportation to look for a new job any help at all?
"Let's see, honey, during the summer, the kids are more likely to get hurt, so we won't eat in June, we'll skip the mortgage payment for July, and turn the utilities off in August so the kids can go to the doctor.."
How is being forced into decisions like that helpful in any way? Simply put, they are not. But because we have COBRA, some people in the past, who decided that it was a solution, were able to convince themselves enough that what they were doing was helping the less fortunate, and therefore were able to sleep with their decisions...after all, they were helping.
Is everyone paying attention? This may have gone unnoticed by some, given the news flowing from Wall Street, large corporations, and major banks. And the various antics of "Overpaid Imbeciles" pretending to be politicians that "care" about us.
We got to where we are because of a human trait, something that I have noticed is not being labeled properly when the various "experts" offer their opinions on the matter.
GREED. Human greed helped push us to where we are.
Albert Einstein has been quoted as saying "Two things are infinite. The universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe." I tend to agree on the stupidity, I witness things everyday that seem to affirm that human stupidity is expanding at an exponential rate.
I would like to propose an expansion of that quote, a "Dredwolfism", if you will. I highly doubt I will ever be in "Quotable Quotes", but you never know. So here it goes....
"Three things are infinite. The universe, human stupidity, and human greed; and I'm not sure about the universe. Natural selection can nullify stupidity with a little time, but greed? It is eternal."
Those that have been "victims of the current economic downturn" and are trying to find some type of health insurance coverage for their families while looking for work know what I am talking about. COBRA coverage is ludicrous...In my case, for +$1310/month, I could have health coverage for my family...but my unemployment benefit (which I had never used before) could not cover the COBRA premium. Nor could I choose to reduce benefits. And spare me the whole "You are just now covering what your employer paid for your health insurance" argument, please. If such is truly the case, then many companies would be losing money at an astronomical rate, which should have reduced those executive bonuses quite a bit. Unless all companies simply variants of AIG and we simply have not noticed yet.
The company administering COBRA for my former employer had a "take it or leave it" attitude when I tried to ask about options, it did not take a calculator to determine that COBRA coverage would take my ENTIRE unemployment check, plus a few dollars more. If I could afford over $1300/month for health insurance, I would not consider myself in need of a job OR unemployment funds!
And COBRA is supposed to be a program to HELP those that lose their jobs? This "help" is putting me in a situation trying to choose what is most important for my family's survival, how is any of this actually HELPING?
How is putting someone into a position trying to choose if health insurance should be more important than food, shelter, power, water, or transportation to look for a new job any help at all?
"Let's see, honey, during the summer, the kids are more likely to get hurt, so we won't eat in June, we'll skip the mortgage payment for July, and turn the utilities off in August so the kids can go to the doctor.."
How is being forced into decisions like that helpful in any way? Simply put, they are not. But because we have COBRA, some people in the past, who decided that it was a solution, were able to convince themselves enough that what they were doing was helping the less fortunate, and therefore were able to sleep with their decisions...after all, they were helping.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Surviving the changes....Part II
Yes, some of the posts on this blog may be extensions of an initial post, while others may be single thoughts. My apologies if you were expecting solid continuity in this blog.
This is a continuation of the "Surviving the changes" post, where I pointed out my own stupidity for electing to use the offering from my employer as my sole life insurance provider, for myself, my wife, and my children.
I can't say it enough, in these times. It has been said already for those that survive this recession, they will have their lives changed. If you are going through the recession with career or financial loss, you already know all of those changes won't be positive. But take matters into your own hands and MAKE decisions that will be the best for your family...ESPECIALLY if you are gone. If you are making the same mistake I did and the only life insurance provider for you and your family is your employer, FIX IT NOW. Stop reading this blog and go explore your options. NOW. This blog will be here for you to read later, if its that important to you. But this blog is NOT more important than taking care of one's family.
I have some serious and strong beliefs on this matter. If you are a married man with a family that you care for, a wife you spoke the vows to before the alter, and children you promised to always love and care for, getting some life insurance to help them if something happens to you IS the "manly" thing to do. My own father spoke on this at length, and I now realize why (hopefully not too late) he made some of the choices he did. After my fathers death, my mother did not have to worry about money, at least for several years.
Now, let me clarify something. I am NOT an insurance expert by any definition. However, term life insurance seems the most simple to understand, manage, and pay for. The various "whole life" polices insurance agents LOVE to mention as soon as any of them learn you are shopping for insurance seem to be a gimmick to me. I have seen first hand the gleam of GREED in several insurance agents eyes when they were trying to sell me "whole life" polices. That is enough of a warning sign for me to choose something else.
This is a continuation of the "Surviving the changes" post, where I pointed out my own stupidity for electing to use the offering from my employer as my sole life insurance provider, for myself, my wife, and my children.
I can't say it enough, in these times. It has been said already for those that survive this recession, they will have their lives changed. If you are going through the recession with career or financial loss, you already know all of those changes won't be positive. But take matters into your own hands and MAKE decisions that will be the best for your family...ESPECIALLY if you are gone. If you are making the same mistake I did and the only life insurance provider for you and your family is your employer, FIX IT NOW. Stop reading this blog and go explore your options. NOW. This blog will be here for you to read later, if its that important to you. But this blog is NOT more important than taking care of one's family.
I have some serious and strong beliefs on this matter. If you are a married man with a family that you care for, a wife you spoke the vows to before the alter, and children you promised to always love and care for, getting some life insurance to help them if something happens to you IS the "manly" thing to do. My own father spoke on this at length, and I now realize why (hopefully not too late) he made some of the choices he did. After my fathers death, my mother did not have to worry about money, at least for several years.
Now, let me clarify something. I am NOT an insurance expert by any definition. However, term life insurance seems the most simple to understand, manage, and pay for. The various "whole life" polices insurance agents LOVE to mention as soon as any of them learn you are shopping for insurance seem to be a gimmick to me. I have seen first hand the gleam of GREED in several insurance agents eyes when they were trying to sell me "whole life" polices. That is enough of a warning sign for me to choose something else.
Humor break...Jimmy!
Alright, I have to admit, this is my absolute favorite commercial right now...
Think with your dipstick, Jimmy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mj5ms9PJDNY
The actor used in this is actually a well-know acting coach. Yep, you read that right. The guy running around and whipping people with a engine oil dipstick is a acting coach.
Perhaps we should sent the oil dipstick-wielding Scotsman to Washington DC to urge our government officials in the right direction...it may be more convincing than a lobbyist.
Think with your dipstick, Jimmy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mj5ms9PJDNY
The actor used in this is actually a well-know acting coach. Yep, you read that right. The guy running around and whipping people with a engine oil dipstick is a acting coach.
Perhaps we should sent the oil dipstick-wielding Scotsman to Washington DC to urge our government officials in the right direction...it may be more convincing than a lobbyist.
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