Lets go back to Civilized Discourse in Politics.

I read, this morning, about a Republican Member of the House, whose office was shot at, also I have followed the threats and acts of violence toward the Democratic House Members. ENOUGH, we need to get back to honest debate, which means acting civil toward one another. I have followed politics since 1963 when I was old enough to vote (you had to be 21 in those days), and I have followed a lot of politicians whom I would not vote for. I have never, however; considered violence toward any of them. I am not to happy with parts of the new Health Care Bill, but these issues should be resolved at the Ballot Box, and not on the streets.

I am concerned about how the financing for this bill will be appropriated. I am also concerned about proposed cuts in MEDICARE, the health care program for us "Old Folks". It is getting more and more difficult for folks over 65 to find providers who will take them. Many Health Care Providers are continuing to cover patients who are under their care on their 65th birthday, but will not take on new MEDICARE patients. If our government cuts MEDICARE by $500Billion and reduces payments to HCPs we will be heard pressed to find providers who will provide needed. I am concerned about the long term affects of this Bill, i.e; where we are going to find replacements for HCPs after the current ones retire or otherwise move out of the Hearth

Care Field.

I am concerned about this Bill and have written both of my Senators about things I feel need fixing, BUT I have not nor will I ever consider anything physical toward them. If your elected official is not to your liking, vote against him in the next election, but; if you don't vote don't complain.

Just Thoughts

I drove past a SUV today that was covered with anti-abortion stickers. This got me to reviewing my own views of that subject and several other political attitudes of mine.

I should point out that I tend toward the Libertarian in my views. Not those of the current party of that name, but rather the older version. I believe everyone should have their own "business" and should mind it, and I think that Governments should do this as well. I should point out that even though I am Conservative by nature, but; I am not a Religious Righter. The RRs are just as bad as the Far Left Liberals in that they want Government Involvement in way too much of our personal lives. This takes me back to the abortion issue, I personally am not wild about it, but; I am also not in favor of the government telling us what we can or cannot do and the second trumps the first, at least for me.

Since I am a Decorated Viet Nam Veteran, I have some ideas about how the U. S. Military should be used. Presently both major political parties are using our troops more as police than Combat Troops. Do I think changes should be made, you bet. The first thing that should be done is all Military Bases around the World should be evaluated for the security they provide for the American People, and those bases who are not doing this should be closed and those troops brought home. I am sorry, but we cannot ensure peace and democracy for everyone in the world, and often what we want for our people is not what the folks in other countries want. I am more in favor of troops being sent to aid disaster victims than being sent to change political situations.

I have other thoughts but I will save them for another time.

Birthday Party!!

Recently I went to my granddaughter Corinne's 13th Birthday Party. Too be honest with everyone I had forgotten how mature looking and childish acting 12 to thirteen year old girls are. There was a lot of giggling and laughing. I suppose I should point out, that all of these girls consider themselves to be "Nerd Girls". Now, I am not really sure what that is supposed to be, but they seem to think it is the thing to be. They all make relatively good grades. They are all much more computer literate that I am, and they are all involved in art, music, drama or writing. Corinne has had several of her poems win state wide recognition.

At one point, in the evening, she asked me, how old boys need to be before they start to grow a brain. I was forced to tell her that by my observation some never do, however; some girls never do either. She stated that the Nerd Boys show some promise, but the jocks were hopeless.

At one point her had her friends asked me, my wife, and father's mother about computers when we were in school. Now I should point out that I was in High School from 1956 to 1960. I told her that there were no computers in my school, and the PC had not even been invented yet. In fact, I told her, there were not even hand held calculators, when I was in school. Three or four of these young girls, and her cousin, who is a 14 year old boy, exclaimed how did you do math problems (in rather excited voices). I told them, with pencils.

I enjoy all of my grandchildren, I have eight in all.