I am going to start this little gem of an article by saying that I am not a financial expert. I can barely spell economy much less know how it works. So, please- don’t take a word of what I am writing seriously….well, take it a little seriously and send spare change to bail me out.
So, I own this little company- Lonestar Benefit Solutions. I make a fair living and feed my 2 growing boys. I save a little, own a home and lease a nice car. I’m not rich, but choose to pay my bills on time and live (mostly) within my means….but in the gloom and doom of the economy I am a little worried about a recession and another great depression. My company is no AIG but do you think I could talk the US Congress (and taxpayers) into bailing my company out if it all went south? And, no I don’t make $22 million a year to run my little slice of the American pie.
I need a financial scholar here (Krueger & Catalano to the rescue) to explain to me why in the heck taxpayers are footing the bill for fortune 500 company’s mistakes?
An idea that I stole from the internet….why don’t we just give American’s the $700+ billion and let us spend/save/invest it? Are we too stupid to take care of our own financial matters? What happened to personal responsibility? Why does anyone want to suck the government tit?
I have no idea what a bailout will do or will not do for our country. But I’m going on the record to say that if my little company (and the only profession that I am good at) goes under….my hand is out and I will be looking for a bailout too. I hope you vote yes to helping out small business on Main Street, USA.
Looking for loose change under the sofa,
Misty B.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
I love Lobster.
Am I the only person on the planet that gets this? The McCain and Obama camps both keep saying that lobbyist are the root of all evil and on the surface you may nod your head in agreement….but take a step back and examine what a lobbyist really does (besides rack up huge bar tabs).
A lobbyist is nothing more than a mouth piece for the people. When you join an association (a fine one is the National Association of Health Underwriters) or a union….YOU have a lobbyist. Your dues dollars go to fund a “hired gun” for your special interest group. Do you belong to a credit union? Guess what…you have a lobbyist! Is your profession a doctor, lawyer, car salesman, small business owner, CPA, financial planner……YOU have a lobbyist.
So, how can the lobby be so bad if they are speaking for the common people like you and me? Good question. Maybe the politicians are the ones screwing up here. What if…and stay with me on this little conspiracy gem….what if the politicians said- “Mr. lobbyist- if you take me to a fancy dinner, or on a trip to Hawaii, I would be happy to pass your legislation” Think about it.
I’m not sure I understand why the presidential candidates keep throwing the poor lobsters under the bus! They simply speak for we the people…..
Lettin’ the lobbyist speak for me,
Misty B
A lobbyist is nothing more than a mouth piece for the people. When you join an association (a fine one is the National Association of Health Underwriters) or a union….YOU have a lobbyist. Your dues dollars go to fund a “hired gun” for your special interest group. Do you belong to a credit union? Guess what…you have a lobbyist! Is your profession a doctor, lawyer, car salesman, small business owner, CPA, financial planner……YOU have a lobbyist.
So, how can the lobby be so bad if they are speaking for the common people like you and me? Good question. Maybe the politicians are the ones screwing up here. What if…and stay with me on this little conspiracy gem….what if the politicians said- “Mr. lobbyist- if you take me to a fancy dinner, or on a trip to Hawaii, I would be happy to pass your legislation” Think about it.
I’m not sure I understand why the presidential candidates keep throwing the poor lobsters under the bus! They simply speak for we the people…..
Lettin’ the lobbyist speak for me,
Misty B
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Wait till it's free
I recently had the opportunity to go to a USAAA (US Autism and Asperger Association) conference here in Austin, TX. My 11 year old son, Austin, has Asperger’s Syndrome…..they hate the syndrome part….and I wanted to gain some fresh new idea for his treatment. While my son is very high functioning and extremely bright he has some difficulty in social settings and adjusting to new situations. So, I go to the conference to get some help, find other parents to talk to and maybe meet some new doctors with exciting treatments.
I found some of that and I also found some other, more disturbing items. I’m not going to talk about the bio-medical treatments that have helped lots of kids. As a mother, some of these just don’t sit right with me but I am SURE that treatments like Kilation, Hyper barrack chambers, enzymes and diet have helped other kids…I am not-for a second-putting down these treatments.
What I did have a problem with is some of the insurance related comments that were made during the conference, so I am going to focus on that, instead. (a special thank you to Lee for responding to my obscene text messages during the conference…the insurance person in me wanted to scream when some of these comments were made)
Picture this: me in a room with a few hundred other parents, teachers, clinicians and doctors. A well respected doctor is talking to us about the violent environmental toxins poisoning our kids and the treatments for these things. I am with her when all of the sudden she starts talking about what is not covered by insurance plans. She actually made the comment that the big, money hungry insurance companies would rather charge a ton of money in premium than cover treatments of your children and that the best thing for “us” parents to do is contact our legislators and ask them to make the companies cover EVERYTHING!
I almost fell out of my chair.
Let me, briefly explain why this is so (SO) wrong.
In the most simplified form- if insurance companies covered EVERYTHING, you couldn’t afford the insurance premium. (and you think insurance is expensive now)….let me give you an example.
You and your family pay $3,500 a year in premium for insurance. You have a $2,000 family deductible. Your son falls out of a tree and breaks his leg. He needs x-ray, surgery, casting and an overnight stay in the hospital. His total bill is $11,000. You paid $2,000 in deductible + your annual premium $3,500 = $5,500…….the insurance company paid $11,000….so- they lost $5,500 on your family and it is just the beginning of the year. What if your wife needs her appendix removed, or you need a ACL repair, God forbid you take a regular Rx for heartburn.
If insurance companies paid for everything (every cancer treatment, experimental drugs, acupuncture, herbs & minerals, etc) then your premiums would be unaffordable. Think of it this way…if you go to the grocery store and all of the meat is free-are you going to stuff your cart with steaks or chicken?
Healthcare is expensive…that is why health insurance is expensive. Until the doctors, hospitals and therapists take a pay cut, the financing of their services (health insurance is nothing more than a way to finance your healthcare) will remain expensive.
Any questions?
Misty B.
PS – Austin and I will be raising money for Autism Speaks on November 15th. Click here to donate to the cause and read a little more about my awesome son: http://www.walknowforautism.org/c.mrKQIWPAImE/b.3620419/siteapps/personalpage/ShowPage.aspx?c=mrKQIWPAImE&b=3620361&sid=hwJWIbPXJoL5KgPUKsG
I found some of that and I also found some other, more disturbing items. I’m not going to talk about the bio-medical treatments that have helped lots of kids. As a mother, some of these just don’t sit right with me but I am SURE that treatments like Kilation, Hyper barrack chambers, enzymes and diet have helped other kids…I am not-for a second-putting down these treatments.
What I did have a problem with is some of the insurance related comments that were made during the conference, so I am going to focus on that, instead. (a special thank you to Lee for responding to my obscene text messages during the conference…the insurance person in me wanted to scream when some of these comments were made)
Picture this: me in a room with a few hundred other parents, teachers, clinicians and doctors. A well respected doctor is talking to us about the violent environmental toxins poisoning our kids and the treatments for these things. I am with her when all of the sudden she starts talking about what is not covered by insurance plans. She actually made the comment that the big, money hungry insurance companies would rather charge a ton of money in premium than cover treatments of your children and that the best thing for “us” parents to do is contact our legislators and ask them to make the companies cover EVERYTHING!
I almost fell out of my chair.
Let me, briefly explain why this is so (SO) wrong.
In the most simplified form- if insurance companies covered EVERYTHING, you couldn’t afford the insurance premium. (and you think insurance is expensive now)….let me give you an example.
You and your family pay $3,500 a year in premium for insurance. You have a $2,000 family deductible. Your son falls out of a tree and breaks his leg. He needs x-ray, surgery, casting and an overnight stay in the hospital. His total bill is $11,000. You paid $2,000 in deductible + your annual premium $3,500 = $5,500…….the insurance company paid $11,000….so- they lost $5,500 on your family and it is just the beginning of the year. What if your wife needs her appendix removed, or you need a ACL repair, God forbid you take a regular Rx for heartburn.
If insurance companies paid for everything (every cancer treatment, experimental drugs, acupuncture, herbs & minerals, etc) then your premiums would be unaffordable. Think of it this way…if you go to the grocery store and all of the meat is free-are you going to stuff your cart with steaks or chicken?
Healthcare is expensive…that is why health insurance is expensive. Until the doctors, hospitals and therapists take a pay cut, the financing of their services (health insurance is nothing more than a way to finance your healthcare) will remain expensive.
Any questions?
Misty B.
PS – Austin and I will be raising money for Autism Speaks on November 15th. Click here to donate to the cause and read a little more about my awesome son: http://www.walknowforautism.org/c.mrKQIWPAImE/b.3620419/siteapps/personalpage/ShowPage.aspx?c=mrKQIWPAImE&b=3620361&sid=hwJWIbPXJoL5KgPUKsG
Thursday, September 4, 2008
I am in LOVE!
Sarah Palin is an amazing woman. She gives hope to woman of all party lines that you can honor your family responsibilities and your career choices. I’m hesitant to edge politics in the discussion so, let me just say that the gloves are off. Palin is just the push that the Republican Party needed to stay on top.
Palin’s politics aren’t Washington as usual, either. Her impressive speech spoke the heart of many American’s last night. I respect that, in fact I wasn’t even aware that I was opposed to the status quo in DC till I thought about what Palin said last night. She is a bull dog, she is a mother, a politician, a shining example of what a human can do when they get involved, care about the issues and put family first.
I won’t, for a second, hesitate to vote for McCain/Palin in November. And I can’t wait to learn more about Sarah Palin. I think that she will knock the socks off the American public and shine a light on the career politicians.
You go girl!
Misty B.
Palin’s politics aren’t Washington as usual, either. Her impressive speech spoke the heart of many American’s last night. I respect that, in fact I wasn’t even aware that I was opposed to the status quo in DC till I thought about what Palin said last night. She is a bull dog, she is a mother, a politician, a shining example of what a human can do when they get involved, care about the issues and put family first.
I won’t, for a second, hesitate to vote for McCain/Palin in November. And I can’t wait to learn more about Sarah Palin. I think that she will knock the socks off the American public and shine a light on the career politicians.
You go girl!
Misty B.
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