Political Matters

Political Matters

As you all know, I’m conservative politically. If you don’t agree with me on these matters, I understand, and that’s what democracy is all about. The things I’m about to say, apply no matter what your political beliefs.

Healthcare reform

Out of the 535 members of both houses of Congress, as of today (July 31, 2009) only 104 have pledged to read the proposed bill before voting on it. I am outraged that the drafters of this bill have made it so overwhelmingly complex that even their colleagues won’t read it! That being said, it is truly unacceptable that any member of Congress would vote on any bill without reading it. If they haven’t read it, their votes are clearly either because they “owe” someone a favor or they are voting along straight party lines. Neither of those excuses is reasonable! We have a responsibility to monitor what our elected officials do in Washington, and IF they aren’t fairly representing the wishes of their constituents, they NEED to be voted out!!! Let’s take this responsibility seriously and pay attention to how our Congressional leaders vote. Our apathy is exactly how things in Washington have gotten so far from what the founding fathers agreed to when drafting the Constitution.

NO MORE APATHY!!! If we don’t turn away from the path we’re on as a nation, there will be serious consequences to pay. This is not some televangelist rambling and “fear-mongering”…this is an ordinary woman who simply wants to see some Common Sense in our government!


What Needs to Change?

The very first “change” we need in this country is to STOP giving a free ride to illegal aliens! I am NOT anti-immigration by any means…but if you are not in this country through legal means, you need to go back where you came from and file the appropriate papers and come here legally. Our government is spending literally hundreds of billions of dollars a year providing for the medical, educational, housing and grocery needs of people who have never paid one cent into the public coffers! That is the most outrageous thing I’ve ever heard!!!

When an illegal shows up at the Emergency Room, IF they are truly in a medical emergency, of course we must provide appropriate care for them, BEFORE SENDING THEM BACK TO THEIR HOMELAND. If it is not truly a medical emergency, they need to be sent back IMMEDIATELY. No excuses, no patting them on the head and saying, “I know you didn’t mean to break the law”. BULL!!! They made a conscious choice to come here outside the law, and if you or I make a conscious choice to break the law, WE face consequences…they must do the same.

When an illegal alien has a baby in this country, the baby is considered a US citizen, and the parents are allowed to remain here to raise them. That’s outrageous too! Give the baby dual citizenship with the country of the parents origin and the US…but with the stipulation that they can ONLY remain here IF their parents are willing to do whatever is necessary to be here legally! No more free public education to children whose parents have never paid a penny of taxes in the US. NO MORE, I say!!!

No more food stamps or WIC or section 8 housing for illegal immigrants! Enough is enough! We (as a nation) could easily meet the legitimate needs of American poor families if we stopped throwing billions of dollars at providing for people who aren’t here legally. If you want to be an American, fine…fill out the papers and wait your turn. We offer a home to millions of people who’ve come here legally, and I embrace them as Americans. But those who come here illegally are criminals plain and simple…and I don’t mean we should pay to support them while they’re incarcerated here…send them back home!!! Period. End of discussion.

Anything Else? (You’re afraid to ask, huh?)

Why are we rushing to throw out what is recognized worldwide as the BEST healthcare system in existence???

Yes, there are many Americans without insurance. Keep in mind, though, that many of those people are without insurance because they CHOOSE to be. Not because they can’t afford it. So, for those who have no health coverage & WANT it…

Why not simply expand the qualifications for Medicaid programs, which are already in place, to include the currently uninsured, for a discounted rate (as opposed to paying full premiums for regular insurance)? That wouldn’t change the coverage you or I have, and it wouldn’t create a whole new bureaucracy that we truly do NOT need. It would address the problem that exists without destroying the best system of healthcare in the world.

Another thought on the healthcare debate:

Students come from all over the globe to study in our medical schools. We have the most advanced medical diagnostic systems available anywhere. We have more money going into medical research and testing, to find new and better ways to improve and extend our lives. The current healthcare reforms proposed would change the structure of our medical schools and could severely reduce the amount of innovation & research happening in this country. Is THAT a change we want? I don’t think so!!! Yes, we should provide incentives to doctors and nurses who are willing to serve in currently understaffed areas of the country, but not by making it mandatory.

Oh, and while we’re on the subject…We MUST provide medical professionals the option refusing to participate in procedures they feel are morally wrong! Going back to the Constitution again…Freedom of Religion! If I say that I believe abortion to be morally wrong, the Constitution says I have the right to not take part in it. Let’s go back to respecting the document this nation was built upon.

I guess I’ve ranted long enough now…and I hope you’ve found some food for thought in my comments. As I said, if you disagree, that’s your right. The greatest thing about America is that we ALL have the right to express our ideas and our elected officials are SUPPOSED to listen, and act based on what the majority of their constituents want. If they don’t, let’s remember that when they come up for re-election!

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Have a great day and Be Blessed!
Jennifer Phillips
phillipsjennie@hotmail.com

My Interesting Day!
By Jennifer Phillips
July 13, 2009

Now I just have to figure out where to begin LOL.

I overslept (ugh) so had to rush big time to give Bill a ride to the studio before I went to sing in Liberty. While singing, the Lord changed my program several times (usually He either leads me to set it up specifically for that visit OR will change maybe one song). One of the changes was the song the praise team did yesterday, that I hadn't previously known "Send the Light". Pretty cool song with a very fun bluegrass instrumental track. Another change was for me to do "Warriors". Now, for any who don't know that song...it's not what I normally do at nursing homes! Here's a link if you'd like to hear it: http://www.soundclick.com/jenniferphillips

Anyway, so I finished singing and this man wheeled over to me and asked if I had any CDs for sale. So, I sold a copy of "Lightning Strikes" to a nursing home resident because he liked "Warriors" and the great blues arrangement Bill did of "He Leadeth Me". Ok, that was pretty weird, but sure made me glad I listened when the Lord told me to do that song!

So from there I went to the studio to hear what Bill had been working on. This time it was kind of a (white) mellow jazz groove. In my head, I know there's a hymn that will work with that groove, but can't think of what it is. (Hate when that happens. Chris tells me I spend too much time with Alzheimer’s' patients LOL)

Here's where things start getting really weird.

So after we talk about our CD project for a bit, Bill tells me he has something else he wants me to hear. Next thing I know, I'm hearing the original 4 track recording of some of the tracks from The Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" album!!!! This is exactly what the band recorded, before any mixing or production stuff was done to it!!!!!! Kind of similar to "Let It Be (Naked)" if you've heard that, but this stuff has never been released that way! I have no clue where the studio got it or anything, so don't ask LOL. It was amazing to hear each individual part. Like the harmony part on "She's Leaving Home" that got removed in production. And on "A Day in the Life" to hear each individual chord the orchestra played, rather than the "muddy" thing on the album.

Then he played the original 16-track recording of Stevie Wonder's "Superstition". OMGOSH!!!! That man is the most amazing thing ever!!!! He played every instrument on that track. It was just Stevie!!! And hearing the way it was all recorded, one layer at a time was fantastic!!! I can't begin to imagine how he knew "if I do this here, it'll add to the song". My mind is just baffled by "real" musicians!!!

Bill also told me that the studio has a client they want Bill to help with their project (this is why they hired him, after all, to do for clients what he's doing for me LOL). So that's exciting too.

Then I came home and checked Twitter...it seems Collective Soul was involved in a bar fight last night, and they've subsequently been banned from the city of Myrtle Beach, SC for one YEAR. This is SOOOOOOO out of character for these guys! LOL I won't go into the details...feel free to read about it here:
http://buzzedition.net/2009/07/13/collective-soul-gavin-degraw-billy-norris--the-myrtle-beach-bar-fight.aspx

So then, I went back to twitter and scrolled a bit. That's when I saw that I won a prize in another contest! lol Now, this one wasn't cash, but it's a copy of the upcoming CD by Collective Soul and a t-shirt from the fan group Collective Souldiers. You can check it out too if you're interested:
http://www.collectivesouldiers.com/

Rather fascinating that God allows us to have days like today. He knows we need a little encouragement from time to time, but He doesn't over-do it, as that wouldn't be good for us either. But I sure thank Him for these unusual events!!

Ok, guess that's about it...time to check e-mail now LOL. Thanks for taking the time to read this!!

Have a great day and Be Blessed!

Jenn