Who or what are we letting into our homes on these gaming consoles?  Our children are connected to a dangerous world unfiltered and unprotected.

 Telefon, a  1977 movie starring Charles Bronson Lee Remick.  In it “A Russian officer is sent to USA to try and stop sleeper agents who will mindlessly attack government entities when they hear certain coded words.”  As I remembered it, the unsuspecting, hypnotically induced agent hears a phrase “after receiving a phone call go out and destroy key American military installations… they were part of an operation called TELEFON that involved recruiting young agents and then brainwashing them into believing that they are Americans. They would assume the identity of an American who died a long time ago and who would be their age now. They would be situated in a city that is near or where a key U.S. military installation is located. They were also programmed to destroy upon receiving the command phrase. They have been fortunate that they have never had to send them on their missions. But they believe that Dalchimsky stole the book that lists all the TELEFON agents and is now sending them out on their suicide missions.” IMDB.com

Believe it or not, there was a time when we were not on the best of terms with the USSR & China.  There were people called KGB agents from Russia, and the USSR wanted our destruction.  Now, we see a former KGB agent as one of our celebrities, bare-chested riding on a horse.  A person we can be a lot more flexible with after the election.  As to China, there was a time when they didn’t subsidize our spending for everything under the sun, and we had an unfortunate incident called the Korean War.

Before the peaceful, carefree world we live in now, the CIA started various experiments that involved mind control, brain-washing, etc. in response to the Chinese & the Soviets.  We stopped in the 70’s & the activities were published in the NY Times. ( Do your own research on it)  Since we are now friendly with China & Russia, I am sure they stopped, but what if rogue segments or people, who do not want to give up on the Cold War, didn’t stop?

This is the odd thought that I came up with after the mass shootings where the gunman turned the gun on himself without shooting it out with authorities.(Dead men tell no tales)  I blame Hollywood & growing up with the threat of nuclear war with the Soviets that brought me to this latest “paranoia”.  Stories about destroying hard drives and then similar attacks in China with knives suggested that the techniques by the unknown forces tested it out on others before the final run.  I blame “Telefon”, “Capricorn One”, “Bourne Identity”, James Bond, the  “Manchurian Candidate” starring Frank Sinatra, Tom Clancy, etc. for these crazy, misguided thoughts.  Also, throw in Aldous Huxley & George Orwell.

But where’s the motive?  If I spelled it all out, then you would stop reading.  Start researching yourself about a massacre in 1996 at a school in Scotland that resulted in private citizens losing their gun ownership rights in the UK… 

I dismissed the above thoughts because it is just too out there.  It is the result of despair over losing the innocent to senselessness.  Trying to figure out why such atrocities occur.  It is the thought of the loss of a sense of security or how things used to be, which may have been just an illusion.

How does this relate to video games? These violent video games with military simulations reward the players with kill streaks, weapons, headshots, final kill cams, challenges, contracts, etc.  The idea is to kill the most people possible within 7 to 10 minutes.  The game console is hooked up to the internet, and you can play with people from around the world.  A player from Australia just played 5 days straight.  It is addicting much like casino gambling & slot machines. You can play with a headset, and talk to anyone under the sun.

Many parents played video games when they were young and might not know the advances, or do not have time to consider the pitfalls and dangers.  I believe that reasonable regulation of domestic/foreign corporations that broadcast into your home and occupy your children’s time is a good idea.  There was a time when the government was concerned with subliminal advertising.  They can’t pass a budget, so I doubt they are able to monitor, in a responsible fashion, every game console coming into the home.  Neither can you.

Good government does have a role setting ratings, warnings and educating the public on the dangers of these “games”, especially for military level simulations or “games” that involve shooting at the police.  Government does have a role to monitor domestic & foreign corporations selling & broadcasting in the US.  Can these games, consoles get hacked?  Can nefarious types get to our children or the weakest among us for their evil purposes?  If the answer is “yes”, then there is no limit to what they can expose your children to while they are locked in their room for hours without true supervision.

My generic advice to parents: DO NOT cave in to your child’s wishes & buy any of these games this Christmas, or any time.  Your children will be better behaved, and will do better in school.  You will sleep better at night knowing that you did the right thing, and that you did your job as a parent.  You protected your child.   

Please pray for the innocent victims and their families.

Bill O’Reilly, losing your religion?

"Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do." Mark 8:32-33. Jesus said this to His Rock, His foundation of His Church, Peter. This extremely harsh statement came shortly after Peter correctly stated that Jesus was the Messiah, but, more importantly, after “Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him” about God’s Will and His coming Passion.

Bill O’Reilly’s article, “Losing Your Religion” rebukes the Church and the Archbishops when he states the following:

“After Caroline Kennedy's speech, not one American Catholic leader publicly criticized her. There was complete silence from the Archbishops. Given a huge opportunity to explain why all life should be considered sacred and why Ms. Kennedy is misguided to say the least, the clerics passed. Call it the silence of the lambs.

It was obvious at the Democratic convention that President Obama and the Democratic Party are extremely bullish on "reproductive rights" and are using the issue to promote a fabricated "war on women" by the Republican Party. In response, the GOP has little to offer. It fears being branded "anti-woman."

But theologians don't have to run for office or curry favor with any group. They supposedly have a moral obligation to define their beliefs and stand up for what they consider God's will.

Abortion eliminates life. That's what the procedure does. Human DNA is present upon conception. If the Catholic Church believes that abortion is against what God intended, then it should be just as adamant about stating its case as Caroline Kennedy is about stating hers.

It is not.”

Wow, Bill!! “It is not”? Who lost it here? You could not be more wrong.

Timothy Cardinal Dolan appeared to give the closing prayer at the RNC & DNC. The prayer is as follows:

With a “firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence,” let us close this convention by praying for this land that we so cherish and love:

Let us Pray.

Almighty God, father of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, revealed to us so powerfully in your Son, Jesus Christ, we thank you for showering your blessings upon this our beloved nation.  Bless all here present, and all across this great land, who work hard for the day when a greater portion of your justice, and a more ample measure of your care for the poor and suffering, may prevail in these United States.  Help us to see that a society’s greatness is found above all in the respect it shows for the weakest and neediest among us.

We beseech you, almighty God to shed your grace on this noble experiment in ordered liberty, which began with the confident assertion of inalienable rights bestowed upon us by you:  life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Thus do we praise you for the gift of life.  Grant us the courage to defend it, life, without which no other rights are secure.  We ask your benediction on those waiting to be born, that they may be welcomed and protected.  Strengthen our sick and our elders waiting to see your holy face at life’s end, that they may be accompanied by true compassion and cherished with the dignity due those who are infirm and fragile.

We praise and thank you for the gift of liberty.  May this land of the free never lack those brave enough to defend our basic freedoms.  Renew in all our people a profound respect for religious liberty:  the first, most cherished freedom bequeathed upon us at our Founding. May our liberty be in harmony with truth; freedom ordered in goodness and justice.  Help us live our freedom in faith, hope, and love.  Make us ever-grateful for those who, for over two centuries, have given their lives in freedom’s defense; we commend their noble souls to your eternal care, as even now we beg the protection of your mighty arm upon our men and women in uniform.

We praise and thank you for granting us the life and the liberty by which we can pursue happiness.  Show us anew that happiness is found only in respecting the laws of nature and of nature’s God.  Empower us with your grace so that we might resist the temptation to replace the moral law with idols of our own making, or to remake those institutions you have given us for the nurturing of life and community.  May we welcome those who yearn to breathe free and to pursue happiness in this land of freedom, adding their gifts to those whose families have lived here for centuries.

We praise and thank you for the American genius of government of the people, by the people and for the people.  Oh God of wisdom, justice, and might, we ask your guidance for those who govern us:  President Barack Obama, Vice President Joseph Biden, Congress, the Supreme Court, and all those, including Governor Mitt Romney and Congressman Paul Ryan, who seek to serve the common good by seeking public office.  Make them all worthy to serve you by serving our country.  Help them remember that the only just government is the government that serves its citizens rather than itself. With your grace, may all Americans choose wisely as we consider the future course of public policy.

And finally Lord, we beseech your benediction on all of us who depart from here this evening, and on all those, in every land, who yearn to conduct their lives in freedom and justice.  We beg you to remember, as we pledge to remember, those who are not free; those who suffer for freedom’s cause; those who are poor, out of work, needy, sick, or alone; those who are persecuted for their religious convictions, those still ravaged by war.

And most of all, God Almighty, we thank you for the great gift of our beloved country.

For we are indeed “one nation under God,” and “in God we trust.”

So dear God, bless America.  You who live and reign forever and ever.

Amen!

An extremely powerful, intelligent, thoughtful, etc. prayer supporting Life! Bill O’Reilly wishes as a man does. He wanted Cardinal Dolan to rip into the democrats and Caroline Kennedy. Calling herself a Catholic! How dare her!!??

As a representative, a Prince, of the Church, Cardinal Dolan handled the extremely delicate situation deftly. If he had acted like Bill O’Reilly wanted, Cardinal Dolan would have made himself and the Church the focus of attention at the DNC, and the election. A focus which would have further polarized the “politics” of the issue, rather than give people a powerful prayer worthy of deep reflection. I wonder if Mr. O’Reilly would have criticized Cardinal Dolan for trying to upstage the convention or to make the convention about the Cardinal, if he directly attacked Caroline Kennedy.

The Gospel calls the laity and the Church to be shepherds and go after that 1 lost sheep. “Catholics” who mistakenly think that they can be for abortion are lost in utter darkness. Does the Church slam the door on them, or go after those lost souls? I believe Cardinal Dolan chose to be the shepherd, rather than the butcher, when he offered the prayers at the convention. I think the Cardinal knows a bit better what God may want, rather than man’s desires.

In the past, I know the clergy has attempted to privately meet with and write the public “catholic” figure regarding the issue of abortion. We do not know if this was done privately with Caroline Kennedy. I would imagine that the Church would hold out hope that this lost sheep would repent and return. What I do know is that Catholic laity has the calling and obligation to become involved in the political discourse. I would refer you to an outstanding presentation by Cardinal Dolan at the 2012 Public Policy Convocation on 3/9/12 http://www.telecaretv.org/mediaPortal/player.dbml?catid=13308&id=853665 . All Catholic laity ought to take the time to watch this presentation. In short, the burdens of the Church ought not to be on the shoulders of the clergy alone. We have a moral obligation.

In Bill O’Reilly’s March 2012 interview with Cardinal Dolan, Cardinal Dolan explains that his duty is to describe the principles of the Church. http://foxnewsinsider.com/2012/03/28/bill-oreilly-interviews-cardinal-timothy-dolan-believes-its-not-about-contraception-its-about-religious-freedom/

Making the point with a “personal” attack is not Cardinal Dolan’s role. Bill, do you want the catholic police to show up at Kennedy’s house? (How was that? Kind of like a “Factor” question?)

Unfortunately, the plank in my eye is as great as Mr. O’Reilly’s splinter. In my Catholic Church and the

Marxist Sword:

http://andrew1218.blogtownhall.com/2012/02/10/the_catholic_church_and_the_marxist_sword.thtml

I commit the same sin. We have to get beyond the notion that the Archbishops have an easy vocation. They have to be spiritual leaders, school & Church administrators, employers, fundraisers, teachers, great communicators etc, and be politically savvy. They deal with the worst of human suffering from the death of children to the struggles of the least among us. With these crushing burdens that would weaken the resolve of any man, they do their best to navigate the complexities of life and death, just so they may shepherd our souls to God & Jesus. We sit back on our couches watching football and, from a distance, while they are in a hospice or administering to a child dying from cancer, we set forth our criticisms and what we demand of them.

If you ever volunteered, you would know that it is always the same people in the community carrying the burdens of the many. The Catholic Church has been the greatest charitable institution in the world. In my lifetime, I remember Catholic hospitals and charities taking care of Aids patients, even when some in the gay community desecrated the Eucharist. Recently, when a secular organization was praised in a local paper for raising $15,000 for Haiti over a long period of time in a large county, my local Church did that on one Sunday without praise or news coverage.

I would respectfully ask Bill O’Reilly, the Kettle, to do a TV special on Catholic Charities and the great work that they do, and have Timothy Cardinal Dolan back on his program calling for the laity to get more involved in the Church. Since being the couch potato, I have in a small way tried to rectify my sin of inaction, and I hope I can be forgiven for my transgressions. I know Mr. O’Reilly is very charitable and maybe in the future he will call Cardinal Dolan about his concerns, or maybe listen to the prayers of his Church a little closer, before someone incorrectly says that he lost his religion, which is not the case. Sometimes, we just have to pay better attention.

Thank you for your time.

Yours in Christ,

The Pot

"Responsible citizenship is a virtue,
and participation in political life is a moral obligation."
-- Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship

By our baptism, Catholics are committed to following Jesus Christ and to be "salt for the earth, light for the nations." As the Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us, "It is necessary that all participate, according to his position and role, in promoting the common good. This is inherent in the dignity of the human person ... As far as possible citizens should take an active part in public life" (nos. 1913-1915).

Despite the above, Rep Ryan, a Catholic, has been unfairly maligned, possibly out of indiscretion and emotion, but maligned just the same.

One would hope that the Catholic Church would dip into it's well of historical knowledge and bring forth the water of wisdom learned from it's 2,000 year plus history.  Unfortunately, each generation seems to have to learn from it's own mistakes despite what history teaches.

Stare at USDEBTCLOCK.org for a bit, and then answer this question, what Nation in world history amassed a 16 Trillion plus in debt, failed to reasonably address it, and survived?

Other questions come to mind.  Is it immoral to plunge a Nation into economic calamity equal to and possibly greater than the "Great Depression" for short term needs that have been with us since the beginning of time?  Is it immoral to malign those trying to avoid such a calamity?  Is it immoral to become indebted to a nation state, i.e. China, that promotes forced abortions in order to finance social programs?  Is it immoral to fail to address duplicative, wasteful government programs?  Is it immoral to fail to be good stewards of hard-earned tax money?  Money that could have been used to support the earner's family, including his/her Church?  Is it immoral to fail to address the needs of the economic producers in the economy, so that people can find gainful employment instead of being dependent?

Make no mistake:  Idle hands are the Devil's Workshop.

The complexities and enormity of today's federal budget OUGHT not result in one good faith Catholic calling another immoral, unless that budget calls for abortion or euthanasia.  I might be kidding myself, but I believe we are still FREE.

Since WE THE PEOPLE are still FREE, and with the Grace of GOD, have free will, even after any budget is passed, the clergy, Church leadership, and Nuns on a Bus, can use their Truth, and persuasive skills to turn to those they believe are "rich", and ask them to voluntarily support their cause.  CHARITY does not end with a passage of a federal budget, unless the Federal Government takes so much from it's producers to prevent voluntary Charity.  Look to the lessons of marxist/socialist Europe, and how their policies have effected participation in the Catholic Church.  Is the splinter in Paul Ryan's eye greater than the plank of those who criticize him? Do they have the moral obligation to seek voluntary Charity with the spreading of the Gospel?  Is the Gospel message served by calling him immoral?

Rep. Paul Ryan believes in responsible government, and he, like other conservative Catholics, believes in religious Freedom.  Conservatives support the Church and their fight against HHS mandated attack on the Church.  Conservatives also give to Charity.  We the People are the most Charitable in the World.

Marxists/Socialists pay lip service to the Church until they gain enough power to put the Church under their thumb.  Look to history for this fact.  Many Marxists/Socialists see the Church as "rich", and want to tax the Church.

Before we call responsible leaders like Rep. Paul Ryan "immoral", please recognize that Conservatives can be the greatest of friends to the Church.  If attacks like that continue, then when the deceivers come to put the Church under its thumb, again, then good men & women like Rep. Ryan may not be at your side.

Let us learn from history.  If the Church likes to strive for "via media", then it must recognize that there must be two sides to begin with, or we can suffer the fate of those Nations that only exist in the history books that no one reads.

"Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again your sword into its place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.”  Matthew 26:52

“The abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is the demand for their real happiness….” --Karl Marx

“Religion is the impotence of the human mind to deal with occurrences it cannot understand”-- Karl Marx

The Catholic Church has brandished the Marxist sword and I am very concerned that it will perish with it. What is the Marxist sword? It is the sword of the godless, soulless, secular State. A sword that becomes more tyrannical and immoral as it grows in power. It grows in power by more and more of its citizens demanding that it take care of its wants, which have been with us since the beginning of time. Citizens, most with the best of intentions, want to cure suffering and need by creating complex centralized institutions ultimately designed to take from one and to give to another. The centralized government and the institutions do not take voluntarily, but by force of law. This is not a charitable construct, but willing citizens have acquiesced in this construct due to their concern for their fellow man and belief in Judeo-Christian values. But, is there a point where the centralized government goes beyond the will of the governed?

With a generous heart, our country created Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, as well as countless government programs designed to address the needy. There is no dispute that many of these programs are significantly underfunded and face potential collapse in the not too distant future. Mismanagement, fraud and waste in the hundreds of billions of dollars contribute to their potential demise. Despite this, the Obama administration policies have taken control of the medical industry and have gone down the road toward socialized medicine. Although many Catholics warned of the pitfalls in socializing medicine and the significant increase of power to the federal bureaucracy, the United States Council of Bishops supported this unprecedented increase of federal government power out of the desire to help the needy, but at what cost?

This from the United States Council of Bishops:

“Conscience Protection--Bishops Vow to Fight Coercive HHS Mandate

The Catholic bishops of the United States are speaking out clearly -- both individually and collectively -- against the unjust HHS mandate due to its infringement on conscience rights and religious liberty. … the USCCB, sharply criticized the decision by the Obama administration in which it "ordered almost every employer and insurer in the country to provide sterilization and contraceptives, including some abortion-inducing drugs, in their health plans....Never before has the federal government forced individuals and organizations to go out into the marketplace and buy a product that violates their conscience. This shouldn't happen in a land where free exercise of religion ranks first in the Bill of Rights."…

“The exemption provided for "religious employers" is so narrow that it fails to cover the vast majority of faith-based organizations, including Catholic hospitals, universities, and service organizations that help millions every year. Ironically, not even Jesus & his disciples would have qualified….Now that the Administration has refused to recognize the Constitutional conscience rights of organizations and individuals who oppose the mandate, the bishops are now urging Catholics and others of good will to fight this unprecedented attack on conscience rights and religious liberty….”

Obama's health care plan and his administration’s policies are antithetical to the Church. This is not a surprise if you understand the history and beliefs, or lack thereof, of a socialist/Marxist. Look to Obama’s associates, his cabinet appointments and political stances, including on abortion and partial birth abortion. Where did he stand on partial birth abortion when he was a State Senator? 

Unfortunately, Obama's administration would like the US to become more socialist/Marxist, which does not bode well for the Church.  Throughout history, Marxism/communism has attacked and undermined the Church's role in society.  We see the results in Europe with less and less people attending Church because the State takes the role of administering “Charity”.  Simply put, if the State takes care of all needs, then why do they need the Church?  The State not only becomes hostile to the Church, but competes for financial support from its citizens. Also, the more people are taxed, the less they have for their Church and Charity. 

Recently, a priest criticized capitalism and then when on to say that we need to change our capitalist society to a new system to allow more equality and social justice.  This was disturbing on many levels, especially since Marxism does not have room for God. It is one thing to criticize greed, materialism and an uncharitable heart, but to openly attack free enterprise to be replaced by a socialist system will only result in disaster for the Church, as clearly evidenced by current events and history. How does the Catholic Church fare in socialist/communist societies? The Catholic Bishops supporting “universal healthcare” cedes too much power.  We should not give more power to a godless, secular State.  We should devise a new paradigm that would create non-profit charities in every state that would take care of people without more government power and control.  Increasing the charitable deduction significantly would reduce the federal government's power, and serve more people.  People would also have more money for their Church, and the value of Charity amongst men would be preserved.

Despicably, one of the first things the Obama administration tried to do was float the idea of decreasing the charitable deduction.  Luckily, they were pushed back, but the Statist will try again and try again.  If they are successful in decreasing the charitable deduction, then they increase their power with more money and will continue to undermine the Church. 

It is a grave mistake for the Catholic Church, or any religious sect, to ask a secular government to take more money and more power from its members, only to then beg the secular government not to take positions antithetical to the Church. How many years have dutiful Christians marched on Washington D.C. begging for the secular government to stop abortion? The people that support abortion rights are the same people the Bishops have trusted with our health care. Also, public schools are failing, while Catholic schools are closing, but the secular government won’t allow school vouchers. For example, NYC spends $15,000 to $20,000 per student a year for a failed public school system. Imagine if those monies could be used with vouchers to provide a Catholic education to needy students. The secular progressives will never support this because they want the Catholic institutions to fail.  Case in point, a Catholic foster child program in D.C. had to be handed over to the government because the government required placement in same sex homes.   Catholic bishops in Illinois have shutdown adoption centers rather than comply with anti-discrimination laws requiring equal treatment for gay couples. Euthanasia will also be a concern if bureaucrats make health care decisions.

The position of religious organizations and the Catholic Church should be that they are best suited to take care of the poor among us, and allow greater charitable deductions to go to the institutions caring for the poor. Again, a new paradigm ought to be used to address social policy issues, namely non-profits separate and apart from the federal government set up to pay for such things as insurance policies for the poor and/or pay for health care directly. This would avoid immortal federal, wasteful government agencies and the need to beg the federal ruling class to honor our religious beliefs, which they have already proven that they ignore.

Instead of espousing and acquiescing into the power and role of the federal government, the Church should champion their true role and emphasize the importance of CHARITY from one human to another, rather than the taking by law and force to redistribute anonymously to someone who takes the help for granted. Isn't easier for someone to cheat the federal government, rather than a charitable organization? Have we created a welfare/dependent society? Does this degrade the soul of the person becoming dependent?  The wisdom of the phrase, idle hands are the devil’s workshop, still applies. Wouldn't we also get more value out of each dollar expended if the money went to a local non-profit who are aware of the needs of their people, rather than to send the money to D.C. sinking in the wasteful dark hole of the federal government? Anonymous redistribution of wealth creates ungodly chasms between the people receiving and the ones “giving” at the point of a gun. Resentment can grow between these groups under these circumstances. Aren’t we better Christians if we give voluntarily? There is also no doubt that with more money, the federal government has more power and control, and we then have less Freedom. 

We all applaud the Council of Bishops and the Catholic Church when they speak up for the poor, the needy and the unborn. However, we ought not to outsource the Churches' role of Charity and taking care of the poor to the federal government, as the bureaucracy has been an abject failure in providing the care that the people need, especially spiritually. They also trample the rights of others in the process. The more money the federal government takes from us in taxes, the less we have for our families and our Church. If the Catholic Bishops could champion the increased charitable deductions everyone can make to religious organizations and non-profits, then everyone would be better off.

If there is ever any question as to whether the socialists/Marxists are hostile to the Church, then remind yourself of the number of abortions that are subsidized; remind yourself about the number of Catholic schools are closed while they object to school vouchers; remind yourself the number of adoption agencies that are closed; remind yourself of the history of the Church in communist/socialist societies; and, NOW, remind yourself how President Obama betrayed your trust. 

Please put down the Marxist sword. Bandage the wound. Let us all work together to preserve all Freedom, including religious freedom, and pray that we can rely on the goodness of man, free will given to us by God and the value of Charity.

Political/social issue

The issue of the "47 million uninsured"* is not going away in this political environment, therefore, a plan has to be instituted that will not destroy the quality of the current system and will not result in socialized medicine. Since the beginning of the election cycle for the presidency, the democrats have focused, defined and owned this concern of the American people, while the Republicans have not responded with a consistent plan to prevent socialized medicine. (This plan was initially written January 2008)

No matter what plan the democrats come up with it will involve the creation of another immortal Federal Bureaucracy, which will result in billions/trillions of dollars being funneled through Washington, D.C., thereby expanding the size of the government and the power of the Federal ruling class.

Rather than create another Federal Bureaucracy with a host of employees and endless new departments and rules and regulations, it should be left in the private sector where they are already equipped to handle new insureds/consumers. Current health insurers have the employees, facilities, computers, etc. and complex infrastructure to handle the influx of the uninsured if a plan is instituted. Therefore, it would be more efficient to leave to each uninsured in the private sector.  

Tax Incentives

Why would the private sector take on this burden?

Answer= Significant Tax Incentives.

For example, if a company, such as an insurance company, could write off $2.00 for every $1.00 it expends in insuring the uninsured, then it would be motivated to take on the uninsured and provide a policy. The exact amount of the write-off is a negotiable item, but one would not negotiate against oneself before the other side sits down at the table. Obviously, it depends on a business model and the ultimate tax burden of each company, which would have to be calculated.

The beauty of the plan would be to prevent a new bureaucracy and to lessen the amount of money going to the Federal government, which is ultimately wasted for pork projects and/or inefficiently used. It would lessen the amount of new Federal employees, and ultimately lead to more people becoming insured for each dollar expended. Is there any question that the private sector would do a better job than a Federal bureaucracy? The more of our money the Federal Government has the more power it has, and the greater potential for abuse of power.

As a practical matter, each dollar expended would be spent more efficiently, and result in more people getting the benefit of the plan. There is no doubt that the administrative costs would be significantly less than they would be if funneled through the Federal bureaucracy, a common sense point not lost on the average voter.

Staging process-- Probationary period--insurance companies & practicing physicians

Even though it is believed that this plan would work at the outset, a new implementation policy should be advocated for any new initiative. First, start it on a smaller scale for a definite time period to see if it works. After a probationary period, analyze and audit the plan to see what works and what doesn’t work.

The shortest route is to offer it to health insurance companies to see how it would operate on a corporate level. To see if it would work on an individual basis during the probationary period, allow practicing physicians to be contributors. They are the ones that would be treating the people, and there should be tax incentives for individuals to become physicians and remain in the profession.

If the insurance companies are not motivated by the tax incentive, or they do not have the tax liability for it to cover enough people, a similar plan could be offered to all companies and individuals to lessen their tax burden. However, only companies that employ the majority of its workers in the USA and that cover their own employees with healthcare insurance may qualify to contribute to the Non-profit. 

Where is the money sent, if not to the federal government?

Contributors, if not healthcare insurers, would send their money to a non-profit set up to collect the funds. These non-profits would collect the funds, process applications and negotiate with healthcare insurers and/or larger providers to pay for insurance policies.

Each State government would designate the non-profit approved to accept the donation. If desired, each State governor can appoint the Board of Directors, so that there is political accountability if the non-profit fails to act correctly. The payment of the tax money by private citizens and/or companies to the non-profits would act more like a private donation to charity than a government program.

The obvious issue would be how to limit who can give as the significant tax advantage would attract all tax payers. This can be debated, but my preference would be practicing physicians and US companies that provide insurance coverage to their employees and that have a history of charitable contributions.

How do we properly designate who is qualified?

Answer=Require anyone who is interested in the benefit to file a tax return no matter what the income level with a processing fee. (Requiring a processing fee would limit the amount of frivolous applications) This would require those who do not pay taxes to fill out tax forms stating their income, as well as answering specific questions under oath to determine eligibility. If they lie about their eligibility, then they are subject to fines and imprisonment just as those who pay their taxes.

Initially, certain income levels and needs can be set and, depending on the response requesting coverage, the pool of eligibility can be modified.

Each person receiving benefits under the plan would be required to acknowledge the contribution of the individuals/companies that have provided free healthcare insurance. The manner of the “Thank You” can be discussed, but the current system allows politicians to take the credit, as opposed to the hard working US taxpayer.

Companies could use this plan as part of their marketing strategy. 

Since the program would be run by non-profits (501(c) (3)'s), the federal and state governments would have power to audit and prosecute fraud. Having a system that is not run by Federal employees would decrease fraud and waste. When was the last time a Federal or State employee was fired or prosecuted for fraud or wasteful spending?

Obviously, particulars need to be added, but as a general framework, it is a win -win for all involved. People insured who weren't before, and companies and individuals with a lesser tax burden. It would serve as a stimulus to the economy for the tax breaks, and lessen the amount of money that the federal government can control. The more money it has, the more power it has. The more power, the greater chance for abuse. It is an abuse of power to take private citizens money and then waste it, even if it is for the best of intentions.

Requiring all who want the coverage to fill out an IRS form under oath and pay an application fee will also determine how many people really need the benefit. I am sure that a significant percentage of the "47 million" can afford to pay for health insurance, but they choose not to make it a priority. This would clarify that number.*

Based upon my review of the other health care plans put out by the democrats, which will continue to be a major issue that may ultimately decide the election, I think this plan strikes the right balance. (I wrote the Plan in January 2008).

* I saw an outstanding video on the subject at freemarketcure.com, which confirmed my thought that the "47" million number is exaggerated and represents many who do not make insurance coverage a priority even though they can afford it.

The people of this country are the most charitable in the world. It is time to reward their contributions and sacrifice in working hard for their money by lessening the ever increasing tax burden the federal, state and local governments are putting on their backs every day.

Tax incentives for the poor and uninsured won't work. The truly needy don't have the money to get the benefit of the tax break.

Excellent Point for Uninsured
written by (name withheld) February 08, 2009

I know here (and I'm sure it happens elsewhere) that public hospitals are not allowed to turn potential patients away when they arrive at the emergency room. Each person that comes in gets examined and provided a treatment regardless of proof of insurance. Currently, the burden of nonpaying customers falls primarily on the paying customers through ever increasing healthcare costs. I think you have a point. Since the hospital is mandated to take in all requests at the ER, they should be given a certain amount of credit for provable out of pocket expenses acquired through performing medicine on the uninsured. Extend that same concept to general practitioners and primary caregivers and you have a national privately run healthcare system that can provide benefits to everyone. Not a bad idea. Thanks for sharing it.