The SoapBoxers

Today, we welcome another new member to the staff.  Squeaky joins as a conservative voice for The Political Observers.  We are still looking for another liberal writer for The Political Observers segment.  Email Kosmo if you are interested.  Without further ado, I’ll turn the floor over to  Squeaky.

WOW! 2009 has been an exciting year for both Liberals and Conservatives. There has been so much political activity since November 2008 that my head sometimes spins trying to follow it all.

Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Squeaky and I’m a married father of two living in Fort Collins, CO; home of the finest microbrews in the United States. You’re probably wondering where the name Squeaky came from. I am a former Law Enforcement Officer. After just a few months on the job, I was walking through one of the hallways following a long night on the streets. It was past shift change so it was pretty quiet when one of the more seasoned officers yelled, “Hey Squeaky!” I stopped and looked, but I was the only person in the hall so I knew he was referring to me. When I asked him what the name was for, he said it was because I was so new that my leather duty belt still squeaked. The next evening at lineup he made sure he announced to all of the other officers that my new name was Squeaky. That name stuck for years and a few of my friends still refer to me as Squeaky today. That’s enough about me though, let’s talk politics.

I hear the term moderate used frequently. The older I get, the more I think that it is one of the most widely overused terms in politics. Let’s clear up one thing now, I’m no moderate.

What are moderates? Moderates claim to not be “extreme” and they say that like it’s a good thing. Well, I have another thought. Why aren’t all of us extreme? Do you care about our country? Do you think that you know what is best for you and your family? Don’t you want to be part of our future? Do you want to ensure that our country remains the strongest in the world and leads the other countries? Do you just want to surrender and accept mediocrity? Then why do we have moderates?

As many negative feelings as the Barack Obama Administration stirs up for me, I can take an enormous positive away too. When I think about the excitement that followed his campaign and election, I know that citizens of the United States care. People came out in droves to support and vote for him. They followed him like a rock star and showed support for him the way I wish the Republican voters would have supported their candidates. Either way, it has taught Conservatives a priceless lesson.

There is another unexpected fire started by the Obama Administration. I am a member of the Northern Colorado TEA party. We have Obama, Pelosi and Reid to thank for the resurgence of the TEA parties. Most people that I visit with don’t have any idea what the TEA parties are about. They are not a group of racist Obama haters. They are not a group of radical or violent protestors. TEA party groups are people bound together by the common thought that we are Taxed Enough Already (TEA). We are people that want the Government to stop all the reckless spending and taxation.

I’m learning more about the new Health bill (HR 3962) every day. Earlier this week I found a document released by the CBO (Congressional Budget Office). The CBO does all the number crunching on costs and use of government programs. The one I ran across demonstrates what the costs for participants will be. Folks, I don’t know what your expectations are for this plan, but it’s far from free. In fact, it costs substantially more than what many corporate plans will cost. On top of that, these estimates are for the “average of the three lowest-cost “basic” plans”. If you would like a plan with a low deductible or wellness benefits, your premiums would be higher. You will likely be surprised to learn the costs of these “basic plans”. Here are two examples from the CBO document:

1. A single tax payer making $44,200 will pay $7300 in premium and cost sharing.
2. A family of four making $66,000 will pay $10,000 in premiums and cost sharing.
   ***Document can be accessed at this link: http://www.cbo.gov/doc.cfm?index=10691&type=1

Currently, my PPO family of four health insurance plan is loaded with benefits. It pays for my 100% of my children’s wellness visits/wellness treatments. It also pays $1000 per year for my wife’s and $1000 for my wellness benefits/wellness treatments. We pay $179 per month in premiums and have no medical based exclusions. (179 x 12 = $2148 annually)

I have pretty good health insurance coverage. If you’re a teacher, if you’re in the teamsters or work for a public entity, you probably have even better and less expensive insurance than I do. I can’t understand why anyone from these groups (that elected Obama) would want this health care option. Now that we have solid numbers supplied by the CBO, it should be obvious to everyone that government run health care is the not the answer.

The current Health Care Bill is 1,990 pages so I don’t expect everyone to read all of it. I would however hope that all voters are reading several different sources to find out the highlights of the bill. As a voter, you are responsible for knowing what our representatives are voting on and letting them know what your educated opinions are. Please, be a responsible and active voter. Learn all you can and help ensure that our country remains the free and powerful country that it is today.

Today, we welcome another member to the staff of The Soap Boxers.  The Crunchy Conservative is a longtime personal friend of Editor-in-Chief Kosmo.  She will be writing conservative articles for the Political Observers feature.

Hello loyal readers of The Soap Boxers. You may be wondering about my name, The Crunchy Conservative. Let me tell you a little bit about myself.

I am a college educated, twenty-something mother of two boys from Iowa. I have my Bachelor of Science degree in English, emphasis in British Literature and Creative Writing. And I lean to the right, politically speaking that is.

I was nicknamed Ann Coulter while working at the Iowa State Daily as a conservative opinion columnist. I think it was intended to be an insult. I took it as a compliment.

I have worked on many political campaigns ranging from local city council to Communications Director for a US Senate race. I also volunteered for Bush 04 and the McCain campaign.

So where does the “crunchy” come in? Well, I am passionate about breastfeeding, baby wearing, and co-sleeping. I’ve even dabbled in cloth diapers.

I maintained my household, a full time job and a toddler while my husband served in Iraq. And I’m opinionated and strong. And I’ll let you know it. And I hope you enjoy reading my contributions to The Soap Boxers.

A Health Care Plan I Can Believe In

I’ll admit it. I’m a nerd. I spent a weekend reading the 1000 page healthcare bill.

I’m highly irritated that our representatives are willing to vote on a bill that they have not read. If I can do it while doing my usual weekend duties (laundry, cleaning) AND nursing a 6 month old who is going through a growth spurt, I’m sure they can take time to read something they are going to vote on. Isn’t that why we send them to D.C?

Our Commander in Chief seems to be a big fan of Thomas Jefferson, therefore, I think in this instance, it is fitting to quote him. “Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government.” Wise words Mr. Jefferson. Well informed. How does one become well informed? Well, how about reading what you’re voting on!

Public Option? No. No way. No how. Again, let’s see what Mr. Jefferson thinks about that. “The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.”

Cease to exist. Pretty strong words.

I’ve seen too many people leech off of the system. It makes me sick. I am working 40+ hours a week and paying full price for daycare for my children while other parents get to enjoy watching their children daily and stay at home (while I pay them?). It’s not right and it’s not fair. And now they want me to pay for their healthcare too? What’s the point in working anymore?

Personal responsibility and a dash of pride.

Do you want to take care of yourself and your children? Or should the Government do it for you? Now here comes the Conservative mixed with the Crunchy. You chose to do the action that created the child. After conception, the child is a child, not a choice. You care for the child while it’s in the womb, giving the baby nourishment and helping it grow, so why discontinue that after birth?

An article I read in Mothering magazine showed how breastfeeding can boost the National Economy and decrease the burden on our health system.

http://www.mothering.com/breastfeeding/how-breastfeeding-boosts-national-economy

Nursing by Numbers: How Breastfeeding Boosts the National Economy By Olivia Campbell Web Exclusive, April 2009

In 2001, the USDA concluded that if breastfeeding rates were increased to 75 percent at birth and 50 percent at six months, it would lead to a national government savings of a minimum of $3.6 billion. This amount was easily an underestimation since it represents savings in the treatment of only three of the dozens of illnesses proven to be decreased by breastfeeding: ear infections, gastroenteritis, and necrotizing enterocolitis.
…
The AAP says each formula-fed infant costs the healthcare system between $331 and $475 more than a breastfed baby in its first year of life. The cost of treating respiratory viruses resulting from not breastfeeding is $225 million a year.
…
The multi-study report estimated that breast cancer rates could be cut by more than half if women increased their lifetime breastfeeding duration. The National Cancer Institute reported the national expenditure on breast cancer treatment in 2004 was $8.1 billion, meaning extended nursing could save upwards of $4 billion a year.
…
For the national Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), supporting a breastfeeding mother costs about 45 percent less than a formula-feeding mother. Every year, $578 million in federal funds buys formula for babies who could be breastfeeding.

The health benefits of breastfeeding alone is what motivates many families to feed their babies breastmilk, but the individual costs of formula (quoted as anywhere from $700 to $3,000 per year) also has a huge impact on family budgets. 

Let’s think about it. Decreased risk of breast cancer for the mother, healthier babies AND 578 Million in Federal funds saved on formula alone. But what do I know. I only breastfed my oldest until he was 2 1/2 (night nursing after age 1 ½ ) and am now nursing baby #2. I have also noticed that my children are healthier and smarter, I believe, partly due to breastfeeding. The bond that nursing mothers have with their children is something that Enfamil could never produce.

Take responsibility for your health and for your children’s health. It would save everyone money, it would produce healthier people and maybe even more emotionally adjusted children. Children who bond more with their parents are more likely to be well adjusted adults.

So here’s my health plan. Encourage breastfeeding. Stop the formula subsidies. Make the mothers on public assistance feed their own children. If a woman physically cannot breastfeed (which is only about 2% of women), a doctor’s note would be required to obtain formula.

This is a healthcare plan that I can get behind. And it didn’t take 1,000 pages to do it!

We are happy to announce the debut of a new feature, The Political Observers. Writers from each side of the political spectrum will share their views in the column, which will appear on Thursdays. Zarberg kicks it off today.

Health care seems to be the dominant story on the news these days, and for very good reason:  the changes being proposed will have some sort of impact on the vast majority of all American citizens.  Since I have spouse with a chronic disease, and I’m government employee for a state that now has the worst rated state health plan in the US, I’m paying pretty close attention to what’s going on. 

One thing in particular that caught my attention about my current health plan is a penalty that will go into effect in 2010 that says if you smoke or are obese you will get dropped from the 80/20 plan to the 70/30 plan.  This means that your health plan will pay 10% less of your claims if you smoke or are obese.  Since I don’t smoke and as an average height American male am only 165 lbs, I don’t fall into either category so my first thought was, “great, I won’t be penalized.”  Ever the optimist.  I didn’t think much of it after that until one of my co-workers pointed out that they’re applying the stick rather than offering the carrot.

The bleeding heart in me says rather than give them a punishment, offer them incentives they can’t refuse to lose weight.  The capitalist in me says hit ’em where it hurts if they’re costing the system, and hit ’em hard.  I’m still mulling over which part of myself I agree with more.  On the one hand, people who are already in shape will not have anything change, other than the standard increases in cost.  On the other hand, what if those obese state employees are genuinely trying to lose weight and simply don’t have the body type or biological makeup?  Interestingly enough, I have a co-worker who if this plan went into effect today, would be considered obese and not eligible for the lower cost plan.  He was vocally upset about it when first informed, but now has used this as an incentive to join a gym and work out 2 days a week.  He’s already lost 10 lbs, and is a shining example of exactly what the state health care plan wanted to achieve with this.

But what about those smokers?  I’ve never smoked more than a cigar on New Year’s with some friends, so I don’t know how addictive nicotine is but based on the large sums of money being made by stop smoking programs and patches and gum and so forth, I’m sure it’s pretty darn addictive.  Will 10% be enough to get them to kick the habit?  I’d rather see something where if they start a doctor-approved plan to stop smoking and it succeeds, the insurance company picks up the tab.  If they fail, the smoker pays. 

In the end, the part of me that is bitter about how broken the current system is will win out over the capitalist and bleeding heart parts of me.  I have a wife that continues to struggle with her health and we’re paying thousands a year above and beyond our health care plan while CEO of our not-for-profit health insurance company just gave himself a $3 million bonus.  We’ve been giving the health insurance companies the carrot for so long, they could stand to have a little stick applied to where it hurts them.