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I Traded My Home for Healthcare

I Traded My Home for Healthcare

Really?  Well, pretty much.

Four years ago McCrabby and Mrs. M were having some financial issues; when the investment counselor (using that term loosely) lost hundreds of thousands, the business hit the skids, a frivolous lawsuit from a fired employee cost thousands to fight, and the economy tanked, it seemed best to cut expenses (Politicians take note).

McCrabby and Mrs. M sold their house (didn't walk away - paid off the mortgage), and moved to the town where they grew up (high school sweethearts).  

That saved them a mortgage payment, $6,000/year in property taxes, and overall just lowered the cost of living (cheaper being in a small town).

Then, came the Affordable Care Act (the biggest misnomer around).  McCrabby's Blue Cross policy, which he was not allowed to keep (see previous posts here), increased from $364 to $841 per month, for lesser coverage.  Now, as December 15 looms, McCrabby has to change policies again.  The cost, starting this month, is now $1,278/month, about what the mortgage used to be in McCrabby's last home.

So, let's review a couple things McCrabby has heard about the Affordable Care Act:

  • "That can't be right (regarding McCrabbys' insurance costs)" -- have heard that a lot from people on Medicare, but it IS correct; it might not be right, but it's correct (McCrabby is pretty good at examining all options -- this one is the best he can even come close to affording, and offers less coverage than the one he had two years ago, which cost less than one third of today's plan).
  • "Well, at least more people are insured" -- really?  at what cost?  As these costs continue to skyrocket, less people can afford insurance so the government pays for it.  How long can that go on?  And, how can the 10% who can afford it, pay for the 90% who cannot?  And more people are insured, because the government is paying for them.  They could have done that without screwing up the programs for those that pay.  It's always easy to take a handout, but how long can that last?  We're bankrupting our country
  • "It's leveled the playing field for all" -- well, at least for the 90% that won't be able to afford insurance (it will get to that number eventually) -- yep, we're all getting socialized medicine.
  • "Pre-existing conditions don't limit your coverage" -- that's nice, but why is McCrabby paying for maternity care and pediatric dental care, without getting dental care for M and Mrs. M?  The McCrabbys' baby girl is now 35, and seems past the age of wishing for a baby sister, now that she has three kids of her own.  But her kids will still be paying for today's healthcare 50 years from now.
  • "This system is more fair than what we had" -- to whom?  See above.
  • "But, at least gas prices are down" --  Really???  15 or 20 cents?  Maybe, 50?  Since McCrabby is such a numbers guy, he did some ciphering, and this is what he found. McCrabby and Mrs. M drive about 1,200 miles per month, between their two cars (less driving in a small town).  Having cars that get reasonable gas mileage, that translates to about 50 gallons of gas per month (24 MPG average).  So, if gas goes down 15 cents per gallon, it saves the McCrabbys about $7.50 that month.  The McCrabby health insurance bill, is going up $400+ per month this month, after going up $400/month in January/2014, when the McCrabbys could NOT keep the plan they had.  To have the same impact as two years of health insurance increases, gas would have to go up to more than $19 per gallon.  Do you think that would make the news?
And, do you want to hear a real irony.  McCrabby let one of his term life insurances lapse, because with the expense of healthcare, he had to make a decision.  That's a scary choice.

Well, I guess McCrabby better get back to work now; after all, we have to pay the mortgage  healthcare bill.



McCrabby

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Dear Mr. President; my healthcare costs are up 330% since 2013; how's your bill working??

Really??

So, how is the new healthcare program working for you?  McCrabby and Mrs. M just got their increase for January (again) -- had to write our congressman, senators, and the president.  Our letter is below.




Curt MacRae
Coldwater, MI


September 26, 2014


President Barack Obama
White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. Obama:

I wrote a year ago to detail the effects of the “Affordable Care Act” on my life.  As a reminder, here are the bullets of that: 

·       Examining our new plans that are offered, we found that we must include maternity coverage (we both turned 63 last year, so we aren’t planning on more kids) and pediatric dental care (but not adult dental care).

·       We are now paying 208% of what we paid previously for the policy we were told we could keep
·       Raising our deductible from $2,000, to $10,000
·       Raising our co-pay maximum from $2,500 to $7,000
·       Paying for emergency room procedures, even AFTER deductibles are met
·       Paying for all prescriptions, unless we can get a generic which will cost about what we pay now
I also pointed out last year, what I predicted for other outcomes of this bill.
o   More than double our costs (and move that to 3-4 times if we actually get sick)
o   Think twice, or more, before seeking medical care, because we’re covered for “well” visits, but not for when we’re actually sick
o   The economy gets hurt (we were getting ready to buy a new car to replace our 12-year old car, but now those funds will go to healthcare)
o   Incent people to pick the highest deductible possible to keep rates down
o   Then, when illness hits, bankruptcy will follow because people will give up paying
o   Poor people will get coverage with government subsidies (squeezing middle class again)
o   Young people will “risk it” and pay penalties, rather than pay high costs to cover the poor
o   The system will have to raise rates because the young, healthy people aren’t in the program
I’m writing again to not to say “I told you so,” but to see if you think it will ever end.  We just got a notice this week that our coverage, which was $365/mo prior to your bill, and $846/mo this year, is going up to $1,201/mo in January.  And our co-pays are still three times as high. 
I heard an observation once, “I find it amazing that people who think we cannot afford to pay for doctors, hospitals, and medication, somehow think that we can afford to pay for doctors, hospitals, medication, and a government bureaucracy to administer it.”  Sounds right to me.
Can someone help?
 To repeat what I said in last year’s letter, this is the first time I’ve felt forced to pick what’s not best for my family, because the government is telling me to.  We have always believed that we’ll do what’s needed to survive.  We’ve survived economic turmoil, money mismanagement by an unscrupulous financial advisor, a frivolous lawsuit from a disgruntled employee who was fired for stealing, and we’ve pulled ourselves up and kept going.  We were recovering, considering buying our first new car in ten years, and…   But, we don’t think it’s fiscally responsible now, with the big increase in insurance costs.  I mean, we shouldn’t take on too much debt, should we??  Do you think?  Oh wait a minute.
I’m frustrated, I’m sad, I’m hurt and I’m mad.  I’d like to hear why this is good for my family and good for my country.  Please enlighten me on that.  I’d like a response.

Thank you.

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Oprah is helping us build the lives we want -- thanks O

                    

$260 million of that $385 million is in salary, and the remaining is for her part time work, doing commercials, promoting books, doing voice-over work on other shows, publishing magazines, owning networks, and helping others to build the life they want.  Hmmmm, if McCrabby could find some part time work, maybe he could pay for his health care....  

In an eight-city tour, where tickets can cost up to $999 for the event (including a picture with
Oprah, or a picture with a picture of Oprah -- they weren't that specific),  Oprah is not singing, juggling, doing magic, or playing an instrument.  She's showing how to get the life you want.   

For McCrabby's money, he'd take the $999.  It seems pretty apparent who's got the life they want.  

McCrabby doesn't mean to diminish Oprah's accomplishments.  She has obviously created a phenomenon that leads her to great wealth and great notoriety.  And, she does donate to charitable causes that help people who might otherwise not be helped.  

But, might it not be a little presumptuous for her to "teach" others how to live the life you want?  After all, she makes $999 in less than 90 seconds, while much of her audience may have to sell a kidney to be able to afford her "event."  NOTE:  not all her tickets are $999

Oprah tried to take back the gift she gave McCrabby
Remember, even on Oprah's television show, it's the sponsors that often "give away" the gifts she so famously provides to her audiences.  While she makes the big splash about giving away expensive presents, it's the sponsors who donate their products for the publicity it generates.  Who's got the life they want??

McCrabby supposes that most people attending Oprah's tour want the life SHE's got.  McCrabby has a multi-level marketing plan he thinks might be perfect for those people...

McCrabby has to admit that he's never been a particularly huge fan of Oprah, and he doesn't quite get the huge adulation she receives from her audiences.  She seems a little self-serving, and does a lot of her charity work in front of a camera (they did a whole television special on the girls' school she started in Africa, which was nice, but it seemed less special after 90 minutes of promoting how special it was).  Bill Gates donates B...illions annually for health and humanitarian issues and hardly receives a thank you publicly.  That's BILLIONS, folks.
Really??  Wouldn't miss it

So, McCrabby guesses he'll go to Oprah's "The Life You Want" extravaganza.  After all, maybe she'll tell how to fix Congress, or war in the Middle East.  Maybe she can stop terrorism, or lower McCrabby's exorbitant Obama-care bill (or let him keep the plan he had).  

Look for McCrabby in the audience.  Maybe he'll even get a photo-op with the main lady...







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My smart phone is smarter than me.. Ouch!!


I bought the latest cell phone from a store just up the street,
My flip phone worked so well for years, but I couldn’t text or tweet.
My kids would not answer calls at all, and my colleagues teased about that phone.
So I bit the bullet, got a phone that’s smart, I feel so alone.
 
I remember when a cell phone, was in the car, stuck in a bag,
You didn’t take it with you, it stayed in the car and it didn’t seem to nag.
But now I have a phone that beeps, and buzzes all the time,
I feel like saying “excuse me” for every click, and burp and chime.
 
And now I have some apps to use, with no idea what they do.
How much does it cost to play Tetris, or get the weather in Kalamazoo?
I see your picture when you call; how??  I haven’t got a clue;
And, depending how you contact me, I often don’t know what to do.
 
And now we text each other often, which I have never understood;
With a phone in your hand, it seems a talking call would be just as good.
I’m told I can get the latest, greatest bands, to listen to for yucks.
On my one half inch speaker, wow what a sound, and it only costs ten bucks.
 
Of course, now that I’m getting all the latest tunes that top all of the charts,
I’ll need to upgrade my wallpaper page, and showcase my love of the arts.
And another app is added, just to keep track of all my apps,
And another, so I can talk my texts -- there just seems so much wrong with that!!
 
Because I have a car, I need some safety on the road,
for ten bucks extra every month, they gave me wireless mode,
I check my emails daily, so I need access to the web; and for that
the salesman said I needed extra ram, and a data package that’s fat.
 
I couldn't take the risk that I would drop my phone, and break it on cement;
So, for fifty bucks, I bought a case that protects unless the weather gets inclement.
I can now take pictures of everything around me, with pixels galore,
So far I have one of the lamp, one of my foot, and the quality is poor.
 
This smartphone can do it all; ain’t technology the best?
Another time saving device – just what I need to allow me some rest.
I’m so happy I gave up my flip phone, and finally adjusted to the times,
OMG, I just ordered a smart TV, I better come up with some more rhymes.


McCrabby

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McCrabby concedes presidential contest


McCrabby has lost; it's apparent now that our 2012 campaign did not resonate with voters as we had hoped.  Our primary platform issues of jobs for everyone, free peanuts in all restaurants, and abolishing the profession of law did not gain favor with enough voters, or was just too inventive and creative to gain a foothold with the electorate.  We were ahead of our time.

So, with much regret, McCrabby concedes this presidential contest to

_____________________________________________(you can fill in the blank).. 

But, be aware that McCrabby will be back.  It was an interesting campaign, and a lot was learned.  Although it's difficult to raise the necessary funds when one is not affiliated with either of the two major parties.

McCrabby plans to have his own party, Tuesday night after the polls close.

In 2016, McCrabby will have a much better grasp on the process, and he'll know that honesty has no place in politics.  Sound bites and photo ops are much more important than substance and facts, and a left-leaning politician better lean waaay-left, and a right-leaning politician needs to lean faaar-right.  There is no place for moderation, or bi-partisanship, in politics. 

That way, politicians (most of whom are lawyers already) can continue to blame the opposing side, to vote themselves unwarranted raises and unparallelled perks, and to push pork projects that make them look good to their small constituency, while plunging the nation deeper into a hole of debt that it seems destined to never recover from.


McCrabby got less than 0.00000000000000000107 % 
of all PAC money
McCrabby now knows that Super PACS, which no one says they want, but everyone takes money from, buy favors and stall progress. He's seen how special interests initiate ballot proposals and then distort all truths to reap lucrative effects to changes in the law, or even to our state constitutions. He's seen how a minor slip of the tongue or a well-planned condescending joke in a debate can swing 10 per cent of the vote.

McCrabby became dismayed at how many people don't seem to understand the difference between the debt and the deficit, and that "reducing the deficit," which is promised but rarely accomplished, continues to increase the debt.  Those people are electing our leaders.

McCrabby is tired.  The campaign has taken a lot out of him, and now, with this concession, he can rest, get refreshed, and start early on 2016.  If you want to work with McCrabby on his 2016 push for the presidency, please contact him at (McCrabby) and let him know.  The fire will be back and the passion will be renewed.  We'll need a good slogan (any ideas??).  Maybe it'll be "the fire is back."

Thank you to those who have supported McCrabby (100,000 readers now - Wow!!!  Thank you).  And, good luck and all the best to you, and all of us, after this election.


__________________________________
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Voting? Are you committing a felony -- Don't ask

OK, McCrabby admits he does not get this one (maybe a reader will help out).. 

There must be something McCrabby isn't seeing, because he has to show ID to check out a library book, and declare citizenship to drive across the bridge to Ontario.  So readers, please help the understanding here - McCrabby understands that this seems to be a political issue, a republican vs democratic question, a conservative / liberal issue.  But, to McCrabby it seems to be a common sense matter.  McCrabby must be missing something.  Help!! 

Here is the issue.....

Each Michigan voter will not be required to verify whether they are a U.S. citizen when they go to polls in November to cast ballots in the a national election.  A federal judge, on Friday, ruled that requiring such a box to be checked "could cause confusion and delays at the polls."  Really??  They aren't asking you to PROVE IT --- just affirm it.

Let's get this straight.  Keeping in mind that it is a felony for a non-citizen to vote, we are not even allowed to ask if a voter is getting ready to commit a felony.  "It is really a burden on the right to vote in terms of slowing things down, in terms of confusion," U.S. District Judge Paul D. Borman said in his preliminary ruling.

The judge said as an alternative to the citizenship questions, signs advising people that only U.S. citizens can vote could be posted at polling places.  Why wouldn't that be just as confusing to voters?  In fact, why is ANY of that confusing to voters?  And, if non-citizens are about to vote, wouldn't it be better if we prevented a felony?  Wouldn't it be helpful to stop crime before it happens?

In the lawsuit that was filed to stop this practice of asking the citizenship question, a coalition that includes the American Civil Liberties Union, says the boxes are unconstitutional and violate federal and state law.  Really??  Really???  By preventing "felony-voting?"  Oh, come on...

It has been estimated that Michigan has as many as 4,000 registered voters who are not U.S. citizens.  While that's a small number, it could definitely have an impact on a state election.  And, it's NOT LEGAL!!!

What argument did lawyers (ah, now we begin to see the problem) use to block the question?  "Our evidence shows there will be many jurisdictions where the voters will not be asked to check the citizenship box, others where they will be asked, if there is no injunction," a lawyer argued. "There will be this hitch."   OMG, we would not want a "hitch."

Voting clerks have been told that if they still have the old forms, with the citizenship question on it, they should "use a dark marker to block it out."  That seems so much better, and so much less-confusing.

Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Mark Brewer added, "Having the check box removed will allow Michigan voters to exercise their democratic rights without unnecessary confusion and intimidation. All in all, today is a good day for democracy in Michigan."

In a similar case, on Tuesday, a Pennsylvania judge granted an injunction against Pennsylvania's voter ID law that would require all voters to have a photo ID to cast a ballot.  It must be a another good day for democracy in Pennsylvania, too.  Would you get me a beer?  Oh wait, I don't have my ID with me.
Well that seems about right.  McCrabby wonders why he should have to show ID, or declare citizenship, when he's stopped for a traffic infraction, checks out a library book, orders a drink, cashes a check, or crosses the border.  He's aghast, and he's not even committing a felony.  McCrabby is for equal rights, but....  but...   but...  Wait, let me call my attorney.  There was a lot of confusion last time I cashed a check.
_________________________________________________



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Internal affairs has new meaning in Detroit

McCrabby moved away from Detroit last November.  Now, two hours away from this fascinating city, McCrabby can't help but keep up with the unbelievable events that continue to define Detroit's political and public service climates.  

A few weeks ago, this blog posted a story that discussed the election of a judge in a nearby Detroit suburb, where the citizens seemed intent on electing a judge who had been suspended from the bench last year for JUDICIAL MISCONDUCT.  You can read that column here (Politics - Are we really this stupid).  

Then, there was the post we made about outlawing lawyers, where a variety of cases seemed to be lacking in common sense (the law, huh?  go figure), which you can read here (Should we Outlaw Lawyers).

And now, let's kick off this weekend with  a warm welcome to the Detroit police department to join the lunacy.  

Detroit's current chief of police, who is currently involved in a divorce (no surprise here), has been suspended for having an affair with a subordinate in his department.  While that seems tawdry, let's go back a bit because, like everything in Detroit, there is more -- this police chief was appointed to replace a police chief who was fired for (wait for it...) having an affair with a subordinate.
Who's running this show??

And, the current chief isn't on his first known affair.  His first uncovered affair with a subordinate was discovered while he was being vetted as a replacement to the disgraced previous chief.  And, he apparently was fooling around with the same female officer that the previous chief lost his job over.  Really??  Now, that woman is an officer that can't have time to write a lot of tickets.

He must have promised not to do that again - otherwise the current Detroit mayor, who replaced the past Detroit mayor when he was sentenced to a prison term, would never have hired him.  This is Detroit's fourth police chief in the past four years.  

Now, our beloved chief (and he seems to be loved often) is having an affair with an officer from (wait for it, again.. this is just too good) INTERNAL AFFAIRS..  Apparently the Detroit Police Department takes that term literally.

And, how did this latest indiscretion get discovered?  While at a conference on the west coast, the Chief was shacking up with yet another woman, and the officer in Internal Affairs (McCrabby loves saying that) got jealous.  Really??   How was the conference, Chief?

When do these people have time to work??  Oh my God!!  It must be difficult to chase criminals when your pants are around your ankles.  
____________________________
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