Pre-judging Repeal of the Affordable Care Act

From a story in the News Journal, printed March 10, 2017, covering local concerns about the effort to repeal and replace the ACA:

"People's lives are at risk, and it seems like...you have to be rich to be healthy, and I am so opposed to that," said Samantha Hypes, a medical social worker. "You shouldn't have to be rich to be healthy."

Ms. Hypes, I am, too. I am opposed to people being denied quality health care because of financial standing. However, your version of opposition is flawed, based on whatever your definition of 'rich' may be.

Consider this: I'm retired on total disability, meaning I live on a fixed income. When I left the job in 2013 my health premiums were $268 a month. Since that time they've skyrocketed to over eight hundred dollars a month, thanks to the (Un)Affordable Care Act's full implementation, and I can't draw on my social security contributions for another six years. When I called the local SSA office after being forced to retire due to on-duty injuries, I was told Ohio Police and Fire's definition of disability was quite different from theirs. I paid into SS for decades yet, despite the fact I have enough metal parts in me to build a Buick, I can't benefit; however illegal immigrants put hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of burden on the American taxpayer every year, with much of that money coming from SSA.

What I'll draw at age sixty-six, based on present-day figures, will cover about two-thirds of my monthly healthcare premiums.

The point is, the ACA as it currently stands is extremely flawed; insurance didn't become cheaper, as was touted; rather, premiums jumped by several hundred dollars a month.

And I ain't rich.

John Wick versus Jack Reacher: who wins?

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Someone please, tell me: what has the President done since January 20, 2017 that has been detrimental to women? I watched the Cleveland evening news and saw women...and a few 'males'... marching, protesting, celebrating a 'Day Without Women'. I saw a woman holding a sign saying that the President and Vice-President must be removed, calling them 'fascists'. Another held one that read 'Women's rights are human rights', yet I'm quite sure she supports killing the unborn, a gross violation of the right to life. I wonder if she realizes that many of those murdered unborns would have been little girls?

I still don't understand what the issue is. Equal pay for equal work? Pretty sure that became federal law several decades ago, yet these feminist protesters skipped out on their jobs to protest for equal pay? As with the 'Day Without Immigrants', some of the protesters will find themselves unemployed for their troubles.

Feminists need to realize that Hillary Clinton lost the election because of her political stance and liberal sympathies...and not because she is a woman.

And as for equality? Just ask my wife who runs things here at Ram Field Ranch.

Monday Morning Musings

I made a mistake.

I own up to it but, unfortunately, it can't be undone. I apologized to the affected party and will take steps to ensure it doesn't happen again.

Ownership means not only taking credit for deeds well done but also those actions that have had a negative impact. I can blame no one but myself, the guy I see in the mirror while shaving.

Taking responsibility, or 'owning', an action nowadays is the exception rather than the rule. Too often we see or read daily of someone or some group blaming everyone but themselves for something they generated, offering outlandish excuses or turning a situation around to make it seem as if the 'other guy' emerged from an evil, cold, dark mist and committed an act for which there was a reaction they aren't responsible for.

Not so here. I am an imperfect person who sometimes makes mistakes; it's called being human. There's only been one man who has ever walked this earth that can be called a perfect being and you can read about Him in the bible.

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I have a neighbor, Rod Mobley. Rod is a very humble, quiet guy who goes about his business  unobtrusively, never making waves or drawing attention to himself. He and his wife Lisa are fantastic people whom my wife and I are proud to call not only neighbors but friends.

Last week the News Journal ran a story about Rob and his passion: arm wrestling.  It was a well-written article, giving readers a glimpse of the man and those who gather in his garage every Sunday afternoon to practice their craft, an activity that fills his driveway and causes overflow parking in the high school parking lot.

If only I weren't sixty years old with arthritic shoulders and thumbs...

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Straight out of 'Kids Say The Darndest Things', I offer this exchange between myself and my grandson Butch, age 4. I pick him up every Tuesday from daycare; part of our routine is stopping at Tim Horton's for a donut on the way home.

"Papaw, when you and Mamaw go to heaven, I will come and see you." I have no idea where that came from, completely out of the blue.

Me: "Yes, you will someday."

After a long pause: "Papaw are there donuts in heaven?"

I love that little man.