NCAA Priorities Out Of Order

If Penn St. and the NCAA had read my blog 8 months ago, they'd have all this mess behind them already. Instead they drug it out til the bitter end, making investigators spend time and money to find the truth. The truth in this case stinks and should've been dealt with long ago. You don't have to be a genius to see how this was going to play out (Even though I did see it) What happened to common sense in America? When did college sports become such a big deal? When did any sport take priority over the safety of a child? -Dr. J
 



Dale Hansen of WFAA in Dallas took a while to do it, but he finally got the message, out...

That child abuse scandal at Penn State, which so many loyal to that university wanted to believe was only a Jerry Sandusky scandal, are being told now the scandal goes from the university president to the legendary football coach, Joe Paterno.

Former FBI Director Louis Freeh, after an eight-month investigation, 430 interviews, a review of more than three-and-a-half million e-mails, documents and notes, said university officials, the president, athletic director and Paterno himself covered up the child abuse to protect the football team.

Freeh said Paterno was an integral part of the decision to conceal what they had known for more than a decade, and allowed Sandusky to continue preying on young boys.

The family of Joe Paterno said it's impossible to accept that he or the university would protect a child predator to protect a football team.

But what other possible explanation can there be? A misunderstanding?

No.

Sanduky was allowed to retire in 1999, was paid a nice check to go, and no one believes he wanted to quit.

He continued to be a part of the Penn State family, brought boys on campus, sexually abused those boys on campus, and Paterno covered it up.

This is another part of the tragedy; Someone thinking that protecting a pedophile would protect the integrity of the program you had worked so hard to build.

Paterno and the others sacrifice the kids; nine- and 10-year-old boys who didn't have a voice, who didn't know where to find the help they needed. And when someone could have stopped the abuse and stopped Sandusky, they didn't... to protect a football team.

There's no shame in learning that a man you thought you knew, a man you trusted and respected, was not the man you thought he was. We do tend to blame the people in charge for the faults of the people they hire, but it's an argument made with a simple mind.

The only real blame and shame that anyone shares in the Sandusky scandal is their role in the cover up.

There's a statue of Joe Paterno on the Penn State campus, and now many people think it should come down. If only he had reported the monster he considered a friend, we would have built another one.

There are people saying now that Penn State's football team should receive the death penalty that SMU did.

The NCAA is quick to act when you pay a player, buy him a car, find out he got free tattoos for a jersey (another cover up that didn't work, incidentally). But a university that protects a pedophile?

Well, the NCAA doesn't know how to handle that.

Joe Paterno received his death penalty from lung cancer in January of this year. His legacy, and the reputation of Penn State, will die a slower death.

It really is true what the English philosopher Edmund Burke said: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

And these supposedly good men did nothing.

Joe Paterno spent 61 years of his life at Penn State, the head coach for 46. He won a record 409 games and two national titles, and it's not nearly enough to make up for what he did protecting Jerry Sandusky.

A retired Penn State professor said this report doesn't negate all the good things Paterno did.

Yes it does, sir. Yes, it does.

Wow.
Well said Dale.
I was skeptical about Hanson for years until he revealed (on air) his own history of child abuse.
That takes balls...

Apparently, Dale and I aren't the only humans who agree. Today, The Chicago Tribune has called for a Two Year Death Penalty for Penn St..

8 months ago I wrote this:

Dear Penn State, I applaud you for working with the NCAA in doing the right thing by suspending the rest of your football season. By doing so you not only honor the victims, but you've taught a valuable lesson to us all about leadership. Now the healing can begin for your campus as you move forward to bring justice to those at fault, rebuild your once esteemed program and return it to prominence. I wish you all the best in your efforts. (This would have been my post if our society frowned on moral turpitude...)

Priorities?

Obamacare For Dummies

The next time someone tries to feed you some conservative, media-spun horseshit about Obamacare, try this:

Ask them if they have health insurance?
(Watch as their faces drop and listen for a change of subject.) 

If they answer "yes," then tell them congratulations, they're not affected by Obamacare in any way, shape, or form. In fact, they are to receive a rebate in addition to watching their premiums go down.

If they say "no," then inform them that they're a 'fucking freeloader' and that they deserve to be punished for their indifference to us and to themselves.


Seriously folks, the information is out there. I know it can be elusive sometimes, -living in a corporate conservative media- but it's there. This site will answer all of your questions and more. So will this one. And this one.


Basically it boils down to this: Many who could not afford healthcare in the past, will now be able to afford it. It's that simple. If you choose to opt out, then you will pay a penalty and move on. After all, it's a free country, and you're a "free rider."


If all else fails, just claim victory for Romneycare in America! (Minus the state-funded abortions.) Oh, it was upheld by all three branches of government, but let's keep fighting it! Liberty!! Principle!!!

Republicans: Moving America forward with 33 votes $50million, and countless man hours to repeal Obamacare...

Then there's this Richie Rich, frat boy, snobby, aristocratic, spooky Mormon hell-dream...




Why is he even speaking to the NAACP?
Do you think he wants to strap them to the roof of his car?


Ponder this, why is a party who's supposed to be so against freeloaders and taxpayer recipients, actually for freeloaders and taxpayer recipients with regard to healthcare?
*Brain Melt*


I really don't want to believe it's bigotry, hate, and fear. 


I'm trying really hard not to believe that, but it's a challenge when everyone benefits from Obamacare, and there's so much distortion, lies and opposition against it. What gives?

Update: 

If You Already Have Health Insurance

Obamacare improved the benefits you already receive in eight ways.

1. It allows you to add your children up to age 26 to your health insurance plan.
2. Your insurance company can no longer drop you if you get really sick.
3. It can't limit the coverage you receive over your lifetime.
4. If you have a chronically ill child, you no longer have to worry about losing coverage if you change your insurance. That's because the new insurance plan can't deny coverage to children with pre-existing conditions.
5. If you have a pre-existing condition, and you get denied coverage by a new insurance company, you can get temporary health insurance coverage until 2014. That's when insurance companies can no longer deny coverage to adults.
6. You may receive a rebate this year from your insurance company. Obamacare requires that they spend at least 80% of premium payments on medical services, instead of advertising and executive salaries. If they can't, the money goes back to you.
7. Insurance companies must submit justification to the states for all rate hikes. Obamacare provides funding to the states to administer this.
8. You may not have to pay a co-pay for wellness or pregnancy exams. Only plans that were "grandfathered in" were exempt from this Obamacare law.

Many people are concerned that their company will cancel their health insurance, forcing them to go on Obamacare. However, that probably won't happen. Companies offer health insurance as a benefit to attract good employees. They see it as cheaper than offering higher wages, because they don't have to contribute their share of payroll taxes. Since health care costs have been rising, many companies have been increasing your premiums to cut their costs. However, that has nothing to do with Obamacare. If anything, your premiums should decrease over time, as Obamacare is designed to lower health care costs. By allowing parents to add their children, more healthy people are paying premiums but not using the system as much. This adds to health insurance companies' profits, which should mean lower premiums over the long run. Similarly, Medicare recipients now have more of their prescription costs covered, allowing them to continue taking medications needed to prevent emergency room visits.
By 2014, everyone will be required to have health insurance. This means that more people will use preventative medical care, instead of waiting until they have to go to the emergency room. The average emergency room visit is $1,265, and hospitals have to eat this cost for indigent patients. When these costs are transferred to insurance companies or prevented, hospital costs, and therefore overall health care costs, will drop.

Update2:

If You Don't Have Health Insurance

Starting in 2014, you will be required to purchase insurance or pay a penalty of as much as 2.5% of your income. You can shop for the insurance that meets your needs on a state-run exchange. If it's any consolation, members of Congress will also be mandated to get their health insurance through the same exchanges, instead of the government-provided health insurance they get now. (Source: Affordable Care Act) Exchanges will allow you to compare health plans before you buy one. The exchanges will also help you find out if you qualify for tax credits or other government health benefits. States are being given substantial Federal grants to fund the exchanges. Find out your state's status.

If You Can't Afford Health Insurance

In 2014, you may qualify for Medicaid if your income is under 133% of the poverty level (roughly $14,000 for an individual, or $29,000 for a family of four). This will be funded by the Federal government for the first three years, and 90% after that. Learn more about Medicaid. If you don't qualify for Medicaid, you may be eligible for a tax credit if your income is under 400% of the Federal poverty level (roughly under $43,000 for an individual, or $88,000 for a family of four). You get the tax credit each month, instead of waiting for you annual tax rebate. You may also qualify for reduced copayments and deductibles.

If You Are on Medicare

You now receive many wellness and preventative care visits for free. See Medicare Preventative Services for the full list.If you have Medicare Part D, you received $250 in 2010 to help pay for prescription drugs if you fell into the "donut hole." In 2011, you get a 50% discount on brand-name prescription drugs, and 7% on generic drugs if you fall into the donut hole. For more, see Drug Discounts. By 2020, the donut hole will be eliminated.

If You Are a Small Business Owner

Obamacare requires businesses with 50 or more employees to provide health insurance. If you have fewer than 100 employees, you can shop for insurance in state-run exchanges in 2014 that should provide cheaper alternatives than are available now. If you refuse to provide insurance, you will be fined $2,000 per employee for all but the first 20 employees. However, businesses with 25 employees or less who provide insurance can qualify for a tax credit (35% now, 50% in 2014). If you have fewer than 50 employees, you don't have to pay a fine if your workers get tax credits through an exchange. If you offer health insurance as a benefit to early retirees 55-64, you can get Federal financial assistance. Find out how at ERRP. For more resources to help small businesses comply with Obamacare.

Confused

I Googled the word 'confused' and this picture came up.



I'm not kidding.

No Bad Days

One of my most prized possessions is my passport. I grew up the child of a travel agent, I learned early on the enrichment that travel brings and the wonderment of adventure abroad.
Even here in our own country, visiting the different states can be quite the experience.
Some of the best places to visit are the ones you'd least expect.
Like the sleepy little fishing village at the southernmost tip of the Baja Peninsula 
called Cabo San Lucas.

The people of Cabo have a saying, "No Bad Days" and its true, there are few, if any bad days in this place.
 

A 2 hour and 20 minute flight from DFW, Cabo has something for everyone looking to rest and play.
I've played it's golf, fished its waters, and swam its shores, but the best thing to do in Cabo is get to know its people, sample their fine drinks and even finer cuisine.

I believe that traveling for work and personal relaxation is one of the greatest luxuries on earth. And I hope that more people can experience it. According to the U.S. Travel Association, only 30% of Americans have passports today. More than half of Americans' international trips are to Mexico and Canada.

I also like visiting our NAFTA partners and border siblings. But traveling to even more far-flung places has fulfilled me personally, and I think America should prioritize travel early in its citizens' lives: Service trips for teens during summer vacations would be one way to do that.
Keep exploring.

Weekly Wrangle

The Texas Progressive Alliance thinks America doesn't look a day over 235 as it brings you this week's blog roundup.

Off the Kuff notes that we are now up to six school finance lawsuits.

 BossKitty at TruthHugger sings back to the choir; you know, that small loud minority willing to sacrifice everybody else to satisfy their selfish rhetoric. Is crazy weather really a liberal conspiracy?

Now that the Affordable Care Act has cleared the Supreme Court hurdle, when will uninsured Texans begin to get health insurance? WCNews at Eye on Williamson says that it's up to the Texas GOP. What health care choices will the Texas GOP make?

The NAACP opened their national convention in Houston this week, and with Joe Biden and Mitt Romney on the speaker's list, it promises to be newsworthy. PDiddie at Brains and Eggs has a media credential and will be filing reports from the scene.

Neil at Texas Liberal blogged about Danny Glover coming to town on behalf of Houston janitors looking for a modest raise.

Funnies

"In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court ruled President Obama's healthcare mandate is constitutional. This is a major victory for President Obama, who spent three years promoting it, and a major setback for Mitt Romney, who spent three years creating it."

-- Jay Leno

"For several minutes after the ruling, CNN was mistakenly reporting that the Supreme Court struck down President Obama’s healthcare law. In response CNN was like, 'Thank God no one watches us.'"

-- Jimmy Fallon

"This activist ruling opens the floodgates, folks! If Obama can force you to get health insurance just by calling it a tax, then there is nothing to stop him from making you gay marry an illegal immigrant wearing a condom in a hydroponic pot farm powered by solar energy! And you know his buddy Roberts will make it all good by calling it a 'homomexual marijuana love-glove sun tax!'"

-- Stephen Colbert

"In Louisiana, Republican Governor Bobby Jindal said he's just gonna refuse to implement Obamacare. So if you need an operation in Louisiana you'll have to pay for it the old-fashioned way: stand on a balcony, flash your tits and hope someone throws you money."

-- Bill Maher

Keep in mind that you will have at least two other choices on your November ballot.