Our Disabled Country

According to a January article in Forbes, 5.9 million people have been added to the Social Security Disability program (SSDI) since 2009 while only 2.5 million jobs were created during the same period. One in fourteen workers are now on the SSDI dole costing taxpayers $128.9 billion in 2011, and the program is carrying a deficit of $25.3 billion.

A recent investigation found that the federal government spends more money each year on cash payments for disabled workers than it does on food stamps and welfare combined. Since disabled workers are not counted in unemployment figures, the full extent of the erosion of the American workforce ends up hidden from the public.

It should come as no surprise that the increasing number of disabled coincides with an increase in qualifying conditions for disability. Some of these conditions have been watered-down enough to include almost anyone willing to go through the process. The investigation found that 33.8% of the newly diagnosed disabled cited “back pain and other musculoskeletal problems”, difficult conditions to disprove.

Some qualifying mental conditions called “Affective Disorders” seem to rely on a self-diagnosis. These include such things as: decreased energy, feelings of guilt or worthlessness, difficulty concentrating, sleep disturbance, difficulties maintaining social functioning, and marked difficulties maintaining concentration. A doctor needs to sign off on these conditions but has to rely on the word of the patient for verification.

Obviously, the program is ripe for fraud and, consequently, it is rife with fraud. Getting around the system is easy and many alcoholics and drug addicts (conditions which do not qualify for SSDI) find a way in, as do many others. The possibility of receiving up to $1100 a month makes it attractive to those having menial, low paying jobs, especially since free Medicare comes as a bonus after two years on the disability rolls.

The American work ethic is dying and the “system” continues to assist in its death. What was once a ‘safety net’ has become ‘money for nothing’ because of progressive tendencies that put the individual above the common good. The continuous expansion of government assistance programs is occurring with no foresight or oversight and it needs to stop before the entire country becomes disabled.

David J. Hentosh

Pre-writing History

Repetition, repetition, repetition – It is the method being used by the left to forge public perception and pre-write history. The bombardment of false perceptions has taken root in many, and future historians may not be able to discern the truth. The squeaky wheel of the left may get the historians’ grease.

According to the progressive left (including, of course, the media): Dick Cheney is evil; the GOP is racist; the rich pay no taxes; Bush wrecked the economy; the Catholic Church promotes pedophilia; Obama has superior intelligence; the US is the most terroristic nation in the world; socialism works well; Castro is an humanitarian; there is no deficit problem; taxing the rich for their “fair share” will solve the deficit problem; limiting abortion is a war on women; Obamacare costs less; etc., etc.

The list goes on and on, with reality never making an appearance. Yet, these things are accepted by a lot of people, and they vote, sometimes more than once. Obama was elected, then re-elected, by an overflow of uninformed voters inundated with talking points from the media, celebrities, and progressive politicians. Nothing negative was attributed to Obama and, consequently, may not appear in future history books, either.

Before thinking this is too pessimistic, look at how many in the GOP have panicked and are now abandoning conservative principles in an effort to become “relevant” with what they perceive to be a progressive majority. They see the writing on the wall as: “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em”. For them, abortion is losing its ugliness, immigration reform is beginning to sound like amnesty, same-sex marriage suddenly appeared in the Constitution exactly where the right to bear arms disappeared, social issues are becoming the government’s main responsibility, and Obamacare is beginning to look cheap at twice the original estimate.

If the Republican Party caves, only one, distorted view of history will survive and it is currently being written. Historians will have to drink the Kool-Aid because it may be the only drink available.

David J. Hentosh

Leftist Denial Intensifying

It seems that the public’s continued lowering opinion of the media, Congress, and the president has had an effect on leftist denial, but it has been to increase it rather than decrease it. The hardcore left is doubling down instead of backing off.

Unconditional, and irrational, adoration of Obama broke new ground with Sports Illustrated naming president Obama as one of the 50 most powerful people in sports. Sounding like a Saturday Night Live skit (or a North Korean news story about their leader), SI considers Obama’s off-handed and un-presidential remarks about various sports as powerful influences.

Nancy Pelosi continues to make senseless statements intended to elicit unconditional acceptance of the administration’s agenda. She redefined tax cuts as spending, adding that we should cut spending by ending tax cuts. Furthering her distance from reality, she also said that Obama has been very bipartisan.

California Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein, arguing for gun control, asserted that “…it’s legal to hunt humans with 15-round, 30-round, even 150-round magazines”. Perhaps in Feinstein’s personal Bizarro world this may be true, but it makes her sound battier than Pelosi – a difficult thing to do.

Refusing to bow to the pressure of reality, the Associate Press continues spin for Obama by lauding a recent drop of .2% in the unemployment rate, adding: “The American job market isn’t just growing. It’s accelerating”. Chris Matthews certainly agreed, wondering when Obama would get “credit for this amazing economy that’s coming back”. For those who have given up looking for a job or forced to settle for a part-time job, this job market is far from having an amazing acceleration.

With reports of global temperatures remaining stable for the past decade, one would think Al “global warming” Gore would take his fortune along with his panic and just go away. Instead, he continues to present himself as a science expert with a new book, “The Future”, expecting his credibility to be intact. It isn’t, but many caught up in political inertia still buy his act.

Perhaps it is true that a good offense is the best defense, but leftist denial propaganda is stale, overexposed, and seemly. It is time to give up that ghost.

David J. Hentosh

Food Stamps for Pets

There is a newly launched, NY-based, non-profit organization providing food stamps for pets to qualifying pet owners. In just two weeks, the organization has received 12,000 requests for assistance.

This is not surprising considering the poor economy, joblessness, and the amount of people receiving food stamps (which cannot be used for pet food). This organization, however, is run by a private citizen, Marc Okon, concerned for the welfare of animals owned by those in need themselves.

Considering that Americans spent $53 billion on pets in 2012, up 5% from 2011, it is a good bet that this pet food stamp program will catch on. Americans love their pets, often more than they love their neighbors. That’s also why PETA rivals the ACLU in fighting on behalf of perceived victims.

The lesson here, however, is that private citizens (Americans) DO care and if the government curtailed handouts, any assistance gap would eventually be filled by caring citizens. That is also evident by the many homeless kitchens and church food drives providing needed food assistance in their communities. They do not rely on taxes. They rely on the American Spirit.

The current, and rising, record number of people receiving food stamps (over 47 million) is labeled as necessary help from the government. However, there are many instances where the government’s “help” stopped or inhibited private citizens’ attempts to feed the homeless on their own. Left alone and fully encouraged, a citizen-based approach could make food stamps disappear or, at the very least, decline in numbers.

Food stamps for pets will most probably be embraced and succeed, especially if the government can stay out of it. Since pets do not vote, yet, the government has no interest in getting them hooked on assistance. However, pet owners do vote and they may find themselves getting government handouts for their pets in the near future. That will depend on the next election’s polling.

David J. Hentosh

Barack the Blameless

The blind faith many display for Obama is not a new phenomenon. There have been many throughout history put on a pedestal by adoring followers, but none have been able to live up to the expectations such belief demands. Some sustained belief by fear and some by deceit, but all depended on denial from followers for survival. With assistance from the media, denial continues to shield Obama from all blame, allowing blind faith to continue long after it has been proven to be unwarranted.

From Peter Kirsanow at NRO

When gas prices broke $3.00 in 2007 the media, fueled in part by daily Democratic press briefings regarding  Bush/Cheney/Big Oil rapaciousness, were in full cry…But the current occupant gets a pass from the media and the public even when his policies have clearly unfavorable consequences. The payroll tax goes up and Obama supporters are stunned to find smaller paychecks, despite the president’s repeated assurances that they’d never see any of their taxes go up — not one dime. Obamacare is passed and not only does the cost of health-care coverage spike, but millions will lose their employer-based health coverage, despite Obama’s assurance that if you like your coverage — and your doctor — you can keep them. Obama spends nearly a trillion on shovel-ready jobs and four years later the effective unemployment rate is more than double what he promised when the stimulus passed…in the minds of a large swath of the public, any present maladies are completely detached from anything the administration has done or failed to do. The bad things are the fault of someone or something else, and will be rectified just as soon as Obama gets to it. Don’t know when, but soon.

…something similar occurred in the Soviet Union in the 1930s when some Russians, particularly the intelligentsia, steadfastly refused to assign blame for their (far more severe) travails to Stalin…when thousands of their comrades began disappearing, the faithful felt certain that, if only Stalin knew, all would be remedied. When millions began to perish from manufactured famines, the believers maintained that all would be well once someone got word of the crisis to Uncle Joe. Surely, he would do something. If only he knew.

Read it here: Barack the Blameless

DJH

Insurance or Tax?

A bill introduced in the New York State Assembly would require the state’s residents to acquire liability insurance as a condition for gun ownership. The annual cost for $1 million in liability insurance is estimated to be between $1600 and $2000.

Proponents of the bill will certainly argue that this is no different than requiring insurance coverage for car registration or home insurance in order to obtain a mortgage. There is logic to that argument, but the bill opens the door for an onslaught of requirements for insurance.

Clearly, this is a mandate to buy insurance, though it is not the same as the mandate from Obamacare because it does not require everyone to buy insurance. However, if this bill were to land in a court’s lap for a decision, could it be labeled a tax?

No one expected the Supreme Court to rule the Obamacare mandate to be a tax, especially after Obama adamantly assured us it was not a tax. However, that is what occurred and, as with many court rulings, it created a slippery slope that a NY court may decide to slide down. Stranger things have happened.

Once that door is wide open, could liability insurance be required for ownership of a bow and arrow, machete, BB gun, darts, or a nail gun? How about for ownership of a dog, baseball bat, skateboard, or a bicycle? Could a purchase of cigarettes, alcoholic beverages, or prescription painkillers require liability insurance or an additional health policy?

That may sound crazy but not too long ago it sounded crazy to buy water in bottles like soda, pay for a cable to receive free TV, hand out condoms in grade schools, or provide sex-change operations to prison inmates. Perhaps this may be a good time to buy stock in insurance companies.

David J. Hentosh

Entitlement Programs are Financing Holy War

The Western world, bathed in political correctness and bowing to the god of diversity, is financing its own demise. Fearing being judgmental, many western governments have adopted an attitude of moral equivalence that allows terrorists to use entitlements to wage holy war

Radical British Muslim preacher Anjem Choudary was caught on tape urging followers to “Claim your Jihad Seeker’s Allowance”, also known as state benefits, in order to wage holy war as he does. He mocked those working for a living, bragging about his state provided take-home pay that is more than some British soldiers fighting in Afghanistan earn.

According to The Sun, Choudary lives in a $500,000 house and earns an equivalent taxed salary of approximately $50,000/year from housing benefits, council tax allowances, income support, and child benefits. He preaches to followers: “You must hate in your heart”, urging Muslims to kill David Cameron, Barack Obama and the leaders of Pakistan and Egypt. This is allowed, and financed, by the British government.

Unconditional acceptance of political correctness and diversity is rotting the very core of Western civilization. The common good, as well as common sense, has been abandoned in favor of “progressiveness”, the new religion for those abhorring religions. As the cartoon character Pogo once wisely said, “We have met the enemy and he is us”.

Runaway entitlement programs are doing much more than providing sustenance for those who are truly in need. They are creating a culture of dependence which breeds contempt for the hand that feeds. They are providing enemies with a safe haven for plotting. They are becoming an addictive drug, allowing those addicted to grow in number and vote, as a block, for more of the drug.

Our enemies are not stupid – we are. Wake up and smell the rot.

David J. Hentosh

Obama’s State of Denial Address

President Obama once again delivered a campaign speech disguised as a State of the Union address. Obama is good with rhetoric that stirs emotions while denying reality, so those who succumb to such gibberish will be ecstatic. Those who are not in denial will be frightened by the direction this president is taking.

Obama’s denial of his administration’s failure to improve job growth was evident in his calling for a higher minimum wage. If there are no jobs available at a minimum rate of $7.25 an hour, how would raising it to $9.00 help create more? It wouldn’t, and many experts have warned against such an increase at this time, especially since it could result in jobs being exported to China.

Obama further denied the job crisis and threw out another emotional bone to hungry believers by stressing a college education. The unemployment lines are full of college graduates unable to find jobs, so the primary emphasis needs to be on the economy and job growth. Talking of college educations certainly plucks parents’ heart strings, Obama’s intent; but it hides his administration’s failure to improve the job market and reduce unemployment.

Obama declared Al Qaeda to be a “shadow of its former self”, denying Al Qaeda’s continued successful attacks around the globe. Declaring Al Qaeda defeated doesn’t make it so, but it rationalizes bringing troops home so he can cut the defense budget. Obama only cares about his social programs and cutting the defense budget will help him finance those programs. Pretending Iran and North Korea are of little threat also helps him in that endeavor.

In Obama’s eyes, everything is going well because he is, by hook or by crook, finding a way to get everything he wants. Consequences are meaningless to one convinced of superior intelligence, especially when duped voters and a highly invested media ignore accountability.  His “green” agenda has been a costly disaster, but that bandwagon is still full and rolling.

Inadvertently, the president did touch on reality in his speech at one point when he said his spending proposals would not increase the deficit by “a single dime”. They will increase the deficit by billions of dimes and saddle future generations with the bill, higher taxes, and programs they will no longer be able to afford. On the brighter side, fast food joints will end up with the most educated employees of any industry – as long as Michelle doesn’t find a way of eliminating fast food.

David J. Hentosh

Frightening Inauguration Speech

President Obama’s inauguration speech was a frightening glimpse into the next four years. He let it clearly be known that he is set to govern totally from the left and with carefully chosen rhetoric, he revealed his end game for “totally transforming” America.

Obama used his favorite obfuscating straw man tactic (clearly explained and revealed by Glen Beck) to validate his approach to almost everything. It is the smoke that carried him this far and will continue to do so as long as the mainstream media continues to inhale – and inhale they did.

Mainstream media praise knew no bounds and its bias could not be contained, exemplified by CNN correspondent Jim Acostas’ on-air giddiness at being so close to the president. Keeping in line with the adoration of Newsweek’s cover proclaiming Obama’s “second coming”, Obama’s communications director, Dan Pfeiffer, stated: “There’s a moment of opportunity now that’s important…What’s frustrating is that we don’t have a political system or an opposition party worthy of the opportunity.” That’s some arrogance on display.

Obama gave us his top priorities for his second term: equal pay, gay marriage, voting protections, immigration reform, and gun control. If you are in the 7.8% unemployed (the same unemployment rate as when Obama was first elected), that may be disheartening to hear but Obama also assured us that the economy is in recovery, eliminating the need to make unemployment a priority. He’d much rather increase spending.

National Defense and the military are not on the agenda because Obama informed us that a decade of war is now over. That must have occurred by means of one of his executive orders. Relief in Middle East countries will be immense when they learn of it. Perhaps part of his gun control priority will be an executive order for terrorists to turn in their guns and Iran to give up nukes.

Although Obama didn’t say climate change was a priority, one-trick-pony Al Gore still praised him for speaking “powerfully and eloquently” about it. Obama’s consistent first-term failures on the “green” front cooled his climate change desires but with no re-election holding him back, the “green” light is sure to be lit once more.

Obama’s focus on social issues got him re-elected but the larger, neglected issues are eroding the country. Obama is much more like Nero than Lincoln, blindly fiddling away as the country burns.

David J. Hentosh

Obama’s Fiscal Fallacy

President Obama continues to demand that the debt ceiling be raised, inferring that the nation’s bills will not be paid unless that ceiling is raised. His framing of economic issues skirts the truth and is done in such a way as to make him look like a rational and knowledgeable expert. The reality is that he is no expert; He is the problem.

Forty cents out of every dollar spent by the federal government is borrowed money and raising the debt ceiling only allows the government to borrow more money. It will not help reduce the debt or reduce the forty cents on the dollar borrowed. It will only help Obama increase entitlement spending to meet his personal, ideologically driven goals – by borrowing more money.

Obama has shown that the poor economy, high unemployment, and the enormous debt take a back seat to his personal ideology. This is why he fails to meet the legal requirement of submitting a budget by the first Monday in February. He has done that only once and will fail to do so again this year. In fact, he has failed to meet that requirement more than any previous president. It is not a priority on his agenda and legal requirements mean little to him.

Obama continually uses the blind faith many have in him, telling believers what they want to hear and spinning everything his way. It is the reason he was re-elected with an economy doing as poorly as it is and unemployment at such a high level. He uses rhetoric to solve economic problems in the minds of his followers while running up the tab fulfilling his personal agenda.

With no future re-election to hamper him, Obama’s arrogance is increasing as fast as the debt. His fiscal policies have been a farce and he is now aiming to ram through legislation on guns and immigration – through the back door. The bill for all of this will have to be paid eventually but by then he will be gone, leaving behind a costly and “fundamentally transformed” America for our children.

David J. Hentosh