I held off as long as I could

I know most of you found this blog through scrapbooking avenues. And maybe you stayed because of my rapturous humor, or my stunning papercrafting talent, BUT this really is a personal blog with a little scrapbooking thrown in. And if you've been reading for any length of time you know I love a good political discussion.


And boy is there something to discuss now. I really tried to just leave it out. Don't write about and they won't build it. Gosh you can tell I didn't even like field of dreams by that lame-o reference.


This is your warning. This is a political post. A conservative-constitutional-clinging-to-my-guns-and-religion-go-away-big-government-political-post. Keep reading at your own risk. :)

You know I said in the first paragraph up there that I love a good political discussion, but truth is I am tired of discussing. I am tired of hearing liberals/progressives/Marxists/whatever label they wear tearing down our country. I am tired to the point of pissed to hear how government owes the less fortunate something--that somehow the haves owe the have nots.

I could rant about the health care bill. Because let's face it--it was passed by a congress full of paid whores. This is the part where I normally would apologize for such language--not wanting to offend any one's gentle ears. But you were warned. And this is my blog and, someday, a journal for my children. So I'm not apologizing. Not for my opinion, not for my language.

But it's much much deeper than health care. It started long ago before I was born with entitlement programs. Somehow it came to pass that people in charge thought it was a good idea to give people who don't have as much a little piece of the pie that someone else has. That someone else worked to get.

Now this is the part where most of the liberals I know will jump in and say "but don't you think that everyone should have food?" Sure. Tell them to join a church group. Or tell them to depend on family, or a community-based organization that helps the needy, a big corporation that gives millions to help the less fortunate. Because guess what? That's what would happen if the government wouldn't take care of people. Did you hear the story about the homeless guy (I can't remember but I think it was in Houston) who made thousands panhandling?

Americans are generous. But the balance is shifting. You can only have so many people on the government rolls. Eventually there won't be enough paying into the system. And then what? This is why Socialism and Marxism fail everywhere they are tried. Incidentally so has socialist medicine.

I had a really good discussion with my OB/GYN today. He asked how I was doing and I said, 'well I'm a little worried about this health care bill.' And he went into a twenty minute soapbox speech about how this bill will ruin our country. I learned alot from someone I respect on the inside of the issue. Here's some of the highlights:

• 80% of the patients he delivers at the hospital are on medicaid.
• I, as an insured, married, knows-who-the-father-is patient, am in the very small minority.
• When I deliver, the nurses at the hospital will actually talk about me and tell the other nurses to "go look" because there is an actual married couple with a family in that room.
• It costs my OB money to see a medicaid patient. He actually loses money.
• He would rather see an elderly medicare patient for free than a medicaid patient. But the government won't allow him to see them for free.
• He recently delivered a medicaid patient who had in her room a Sony laptop, not one but two Ipods, and a digital Rebel.
• He said 'get ready to see a dramatic decrease in level of care and get ready to wait in line.'

He's a small business owner. He says you 'can't get rich being a doctor.' Between the overhead, and paying employees, and low reimbursement, he said he almost lives 'paycheck to paycheck'. How sad is that? He is one of the best OBs in the area with a reputation for being a leading fertility specialist. He has all kinds of diplomas for fellowships and degrees on his wall. He's worked hard to learn his job and hone his skills. He volunteers his services to programs for underprivileged patients. Why should he bear any more burden by the health care system?

For that matter why should any small business bear the burden? There is some kind of mistaken thought pattern in this country when it is okay to punish the people making money. That's what this whole country was founded on, was it not? Freedom from persecution and freedom to pursue your dreams?

My parents have worked hard their entire lives. Around the time I graduated high school my parents had a wonderful opportunity. Because they had amazing credit and land as collateral they were able to buy a small business--a gas station. My dad is a high school drop out who earned his GED and went into the military. He worked various jobs, sometimes my mom also worked part time. When they got money ahead they bought land, traded land. Not enormous amounts, but enough to help them finance a loan for a small business.

The American dream. You know what? The American dream is a huge pain in the ass to upkeep. First of all, try to keep employees (who won't embezzle $12,000 or who will actually show up to work) to cover the shifts you need. Next, comply with government regulations from environmental, tax, licensing. After that, work with vendors. Vendors who place other regulations on you--you get this price if you put this display here. And the least of your worries? Customers shoplifting or gas drive offs.

But don't worry because soon a huge chain will come in and put you completely out of business. (Ironically after you survived near debranding from Shamrock Gas.)

It's hard to make a small business work. Even when you work long hours every day, even when you look out for your employees and give them bonuses at holidays and time off when they want to hang out with their friends and loans when they are struggling, and even when you comply with state and federal laws. So why would anyone think that imposing more taxes and regulations on businesses is a good idea anytime...let alone in this economy?

Oh but Meredith you're just saying all this because you have insurance.

Yes you're right. I have insurance. I have amazing insurance. Do you know why? I went to college-local cheaper community college. Worked hard and got a degree. Graduated with honors. I stayed clean and sober. I went to the police academy. I got a job. I saved enough money and put it into a CD so that later it would be the down payment for our house. I met a guy who had the same values as me. A guy who went to college earned three degrees, got a great job that has great insurance that allows me to stay at home and take care of our children. We don't spend more money than we have--except to have a home mortgage and one car loan. We don't run up credit card debt. We live by the rules. We pay taxes.

And now we are trying to buy a piece of land with our dream home on it. Because we deserve it. Because we are working for it. Not because we are owed it. And if my husband loses his job, we will make radical adjustments. We will delve into savings and investments. We won't immediately think of welfare. I will immediately try to find a job, as will he. (Right now I could sign up to be a substitute in the school system and make about $70 a day.) We will re-finance, sell off possessions, what ever it takes to become self sufficient again. That includes leaning on family if need be.

I am so disgusted by what's going on in our country...not just the health care bill, but the whole mentality. Okay. I'm done for now. I'm sure I could go on, but I'll save it for another time.

Oops and for the record books, all is well with baby and me. Weigh in was 157.