Terry Pochert

Why not?  It seems that is what the United States Congress wants to do.  Insure the healthy and those with money, let’s throw away the rest.

Many of the republicans in Congress seem to want to ignore a basic biblical principle that many conservative (and liberal) religious institutions are commanded to do (Matthew 25:31-46).  I doubt that many very conservative Republicans in Congress have even read this.

Our Congress is very quick to come to judgement regarding all sorts of crimes, but seems to ignore what seems most devasting.  In a recent article in the Lutheran Magazine, Peter W. Marty is quoted, “When it comes to judgment, there is no reference to some of the horrible crimes many consider to be deal breakers – abortion, murder, extortion and idolatry.  The only circumstance that appears to damn us for certain is the belief that other peoples’ problems are not our concern.  It’s what we neglect to do that is most devasting.”

The US Constitution is filled with phrases such as “… in order to form a more perfect union…”, “…promote the general Welfare…, but for some that simply means destroying folks who cannot afford health insurance or are down on their luck.  Discard the weak and the sick so that only the “perfect” remain.

Section 8 of the Constitution clearly states, “The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States..”. It IS the obligation of Congress to insure the general Welfare of the United States and see that any collected revenue is applied uniformly.  If that is how we fund healthcare, so be it.  Wake up Congress!

We need to find better ways to fund breast cancer research rather than supporting ultra-right wing conservative political organizations such as the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation. See alternative options below.

Hundreds of former supports are destroying their pink ribbons and t-shirts and stopping future contributions.

The Komen Foundation recently hired Karen Handel as a Vice President who ran on an anti-Planned Parenthood platform as a Republican in 2010. The Komen foundation says it wasn’t about politics, but their actions appear otherwise. Handel’s mission is to lead the organization’s federal and state advocacy efforts. [Wikipedia.org] For most people, this means the organization has now become a right-wing conservation lobbying organization.

The Komen organization claims, “We do not want our mission marred or affected by politics – anyone’s politics.”  BUT, they turn around around and hire people specifically embroiled in biased politics.  You can’t have it both ways.

Komen CEO, Nancy Brinker, sister of the late Susan G. Komen, is also a major Republican donor who was ambassador to Hungary during the George W. Bush administration.

The Huffington Post reports, “Dr. Kathy Plesser, a Manhattan radiologist on the medical advisory board of Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s New York chapter, said she plans to resign from her position unless Komen reverses its decision to pull grant money from Planned Parenthood.” [Huffington Post, February 2, 2012] – In addition, several other resignations have already taken place in various chapters throughout the United States.

New York’s Mayor Mike Bloomberg said, “Politics have no place in health care. Breast cancer screening saves lives and hundreds of thousands of women rely on Planned Parenthood for access to care. We should be helping women access that care, not placing barriers in their way.” The mayor made a direct contribution of $250,000 to Planned Parenthood.

So Where Can I Send My Support That Doesn’t Have a Partisan Political Agenda:

• National Breast Cancer foundation, Inc.
• American Cancer Society
• Call your local hospitals and ask them how to make direct contributions.

Additional References About The Right-Leaning Komen Foundation:

• A Stink About Pink: Better Alternatives Than Giving to Right-Leaning Komen
• Facebook
• Silicon Valley Mercury News – Editorial: Komen Puts Politics Before Women’s Health

Mitt Romney during a press conference on February 1, 2012, said,“I’m in this race because I care about Americans.  I’m not concerned about the very poor. We have a safety net there.  If it needs repair, I’ll fix it. I’m not concerned about the very rich; they’re doing just fine. I’m concerned about the very heart of the America, the 90 percent, 95 percent of Americans who right now are struggling.”

Many ordinary Americans have been taken back by this comment.  The poor are among us and it’s our responsibility as a civilized society to insure all Americans can have the opportunity to thrive.  All citizens, including the rich and the middle class have an obligation to insure this opportunity is available.  Our politicians need to care about all Americans.  Being smug regarding the plight of those that are not as fortunate is arrogant and destructive.

Our Constitution: Although volumes have been written, the phrase “… promote the general Welfare…” speaks to all Americans. Separating this by economic class is a serious mistake and flies into direct opposition of the early American definition of Welfare at that time, “Exemption from any unusual evil or calamity; the enjoyment of peace and prosperity, or the ordinary blessings of society and civil government.” [1828 Edition , Noah Webster’s American Dictionary of the English Language]

Public Corporations DON’T Have A Goal to Create Jobs – Large public corporations have an obligation to their shareholders to generate profits. These corporations do this by streamlining all sorts of process including making the workforce as efficient as possible. Congressional members that constantly say that public corporations do otherwise are lying and misleading their constituents. In an article in the Wall Street Journal, William Frezza, a Boston-based venture capitalist and fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, is quoted as saying, “Jobs are an input, not an output; they’re a cost of doing business, not a goal of doing business.” (Wall Street Journal, October 28, 2011, Are Companies Responsible for Creating Jobs?)

Get Over It – Size DOESN’T Matter When Creating Jobs – In face, no mature corporation or business regardless of size has a major goal of creating jobs. Once a company has been established and profitable, the major concern of most executives is to make the company as efficient as possible for investors.

New Startups and Young Businesses Create Jobs – According to the government’s National Bureau of Economic Research, “Our findings highlight the important role of business startups and young business in U.S. jog creation. Business startups contribute substantially to both gross and net job creation.” (National Bureau of Economic Research, Who Creates Jobs? Small vs. Large vs. Young by John C. Haltiwnger, Ron S. Jarmin, Javier Miranda, August 2010.)

So How Do We Encourage Startups and Young Business

• Venture and Start-up Capital – Low Interest Loans
• Healthcare and Benefits to encourage new hires for startup companies. Small companies must be able to provide quality employment for its smaller workforce.
• Tax breaks for companies with less than 50 employees who hire new employees
• State Governments offering free or low cost Business Plan management courses and courses to navigate the local, state and federal government paperwork involved in starting a new business.
• Encourage small strip-mall style retail businesses who hire and allow the local community to spend efficiently their hard earned money. This includes local businesses such a hair styling, restaurants, cleaners, clothing and home furnishing. This includes help with rental contracts, merchant account contracts, advertising and promotion within the local city government.

One of our clients, Art Fettig from Growth Unlimited, sent along the following that I wish to share:

Earl Nightingale

I coasted along with no true course set for the first half of my life. I wandered into a job and kept it. I got married and we had a lot of children. I worked and I pretty well suppressed my urges to be truly creative and get on with my life. Then some wonderful things happened. I listened to an Earl Nightingale record titled The Strangest Secret. I mean I really listened to that record. I must have listened to it a hundred times and I read a series of books and my whole life changed. Here it is on Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0vRa3KiUEU Check it out. It runs just 10 minutes and 32 seconds and just might get to you.

I started writing and I started meeting interesting people, that is, people who were really achieving things in their lives. I met a professor from Notre Dame and he asked me to write some humor for his speeches. I started listening to hundreds of cassette tapes, in time and I started meeting the folks who made those tapes as I became a professional speaker myself. In time I filled up a whole bookcase with the books I had written and many more shelves with the cassette tapes and the video tapes I have produced. I also filled my bank account and my investment portfolio to provide me with a good still simple life. Most everything I have accomplished was first written down as an idea and then developed into a goal. What have you planned for this coming year? What are your goals for self-improvement? Will your actions help you learn more; grow as an individual; improve you financial situation?

America is still the land of opportunity, the land of plenty, the land where the American Dream is still alive and thriving for those who believe in themselves and in the future of America.

I’m writing this for both of us, for you and for myself. At 82 I still have dreams that are as yet unfulfilled. There are still mountains that I have not climbed that look tempting to me. I hope you have a bountiful New Year filled with fulfilled dreams and with lots more dreams for your life ahead. Keep on growing…Up! Up! Up!

• Art Fettig’s Growth Unlimited

A123's Nanophosphate® Engine Start Battery (12V)

The age of the electric car is here.  What about my old clunker with it’s regular 12v lead acid battery?

Although older cars will probably not be upgraded, some of the newer cars to be released in the next few years may contain A123′s Nanophosphate® Engine Start Battery (12V).

• It’s lighter – Amost 50% lighter
• Longer service life
• Greater energy storage – More start cycles
• Better dash board monitoring of the battery condition
• Yup, it’s more expensive

This same technology is now being used as power cell for cars in the United States and Japan.

Investment Opportunities:

• A123 Systems – NASDAQ: AONE

We have no clue what Mitt Romney’s personal beliefs are or how these beliefs could affect the United States relationship with Israel.  When visiting with some previous Mormon neighbors, it was shared that it is a common Mormon tenant that Zion (Jerusalem or the new Jerusalem) refers to the entire continent of America and even specific areas such as Salt lake Valley; Kirtland, Ohio; Jackson County, Missouri or Nauvoo, Illinois. (Doctrine and Covenants 57:1-5 and History of the Church 1:189).  If this is true, why would Romney even care about the current State of Israel’s right to exist except to promote political ambitions.

I do feel that Mitt Romney should address some of his believes about ruling his own planet, the American Zion movement, Baptism for the Dead, Secret Rituals, special clothing and under garments, alternate lifestyles, women’s rights and the myriad of other beliefs that seem so contrary to many main line Christian denomination beliefs.  It’s also unclear why the Mormons are flooding the airways with the “I Am Mormon” campaign which never touches on their theology and alternate religious beliefs.  Avoiding theological issues seems to make the Mormons more mysterious and cult like.  The media campaigns seems like sweet frosting on what could be a bitter cake made with strange ingredients.

Volumes of literature have been written about secret societies including the Freemasons, Mormons, Rosicrucians, Skull and Bones, the Illuminati, et al.  In many cases, the contributions of these organizations can be very positive, but don’t preach transparency in Government in this day and age without first coming clean about your underlying beliefs and how they may affect your decision making.

I’d love to hear what you think.  Sharing and providing additional insight can only improve our understanding and relationships.

Yes, energy companies are expanding in the United States. During 2011 Smith Electric Vehicles US has purchased its British based parent company, Smith Electric Vehicles Europe. The US company is now the largest manufacturer and market leader in commercial electric vehicles.

This move also helps several other US based companies including A123 Systems, Inc., the maker of batteries which include their Nanophosphate® lithium ion battery technology. The same technology is used in the General Motor’s Chevrolet Volt.

• Smith Electric Vehicles
• A123 Systems
• Chevrolet Volt

You might be interested in:

• Build Your Own Electric Vehicle – Available from Amazon.com
• Connert Media, Inc.

Michele Backmann’s remarks regarding vaccines could have serious effects...

Michele Backmann’s remarks regarding vaccines could have serious effects that could continue for years.  The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention all favor the use of these specific vaccines.

It’s important the Michele Bachmann have her statistics correct.   The HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration) is responsible for claims, data and statistics.

• Vaccine Injury Table
• Data & Statistics
• How to File a Claim

It’s amazing to see a presidential candidate that is “in touch with the common middle class American” expanding his beach house from 3,009-square foot house to 11,062-square foot structure.  This according to an article in USA Today.

Just some observations:

• Mitt sure can related to the unemployed middle class, can’t he??
• Truly a man in touch with the average American!
• It’s his money, but why try to lie about the expansion?  Just be honest about his wealth.  It would be nice to have an honest politician even if he is a bit out of touch of the average American.