May 1, 2012

Why Obama Should Be Re-Elected

Simply the best video I’ve seen in a long long time.  It says it ALL!

Take a few minutes to watch this powerful case for why President Obama deserves a second term—then help get it out there by sharing it with your friends.

April 27, 2012

GDP Drops, But…

The GOOD news is…

Consumer spending which accounts for about 70 percent of U.S. economic activity, increased at a 2.9 percent rate – the fastest pace since the fourth quarter of 2010…

Home construction rising at its fastest pace since the second quarter of 2010…

Americans stepped up spending on automobiles in the first quarter, with motor vehicle sales rising by the most in four years…

Inventories increased $69.5 billion after rising $52.2 billion in the fourth quarter…

Growth in the first quarter was held back by a another DROP in government defense spending…

Sort of tells you what will happen if Republicans in Congress get their way with cutting even MORE government spending doesn’t it?

April 27, 2012

Registered to Vote?

Have you registered to vote? Have you lived in your precinct (Coles County) for 30 days prior to election day? Are you an American citizen? Will you be 18 by November 6nd of this year? Give me a call.

I am a Deputy Registrar now. You can be a Democrat, Independent or Republican – doesn’t matter, I will register you if you can provide the correct proof of who you are and of residency.

You can also register online HERE.

April 26, 2012

HuffingtonPost Electoral Map

Are you watching the electoral map and where President Obama or Mitt Romney stand across the U.S. according to polls?  Well, here is a perfect spot to visit to keep up to date totals.  The current view of the 2012 presidential election, based on polling and Huffington Post analysis:  ELECTORAL MAP

April 25, 2012

‘Gov’t Controlled’ Not All Bad

Medicare was signed into law in 1965. It won’t have problems until 2024. Even if Congress does nothing, people would still get 75% of what they’ve been promised until 2050.

Social Security was signed into law in 1935 and currently keeps 40 percent of seniors out of poverty. Its funds will become exhausted in 2033. Even at that point, benefits will still provide enough income to pay 75 percent of the benefits that has promised to retirees and survivors.

Social Security and Medicare are two very successful government control programs that have lasted nearly a century and are still going.

Hey, and guess what? Every single one of those years those two programs have been in place, we workers have been ‘mandated’ to fork over a specific amount of our income into those programs. For Social Security, workers currently pay 4.2% of their income (thanks to President Obama and the Democrats), it was 6.2%. Employers must pay in the same for each employee. For Medicare, workers pay in 1.45% of their income and employers pay another 1.45%. These amounts are not negotiable; they are specific and mandated by the U.S government.

Now let’s look at the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). A pool of privately owned insurance companies will be running the system; not the government. Yes the government has set guidelines (and yes ‘mandates’) just as they do now with hospitals, doctors, etc…. Don’t believe me? Check out http://www.idph.state.il.us/about/ohcr.htm.

Private insurance must now accept pre-existing conditions. They must allow your kids under 26 to stay on your policy. Insurers can no longer impose lifetime dollar limits on care and annual limits are being phased out by 2014. Insurers are now required to cover a number of recommended preventive services. Insurers are now required to publicly justify their actions if they want to raise rates by 10 percent or more. And thanks to the Act, health care fraud prevention and enforcement efforts recovered nearly $4.1 billion in taxpayer dollars in 2011 and $10.7 billion the last three years, 2 million young people are now covered and 3 billion was saved on drugs.

Polls say Americans don’t like the Act, I’m not completely happy with it myself. What reports don’t tell us is how many of those surveyed wanted ‘more’ not less health benefits, Medicare for all, completely government controlled.

While ACA may not be perfect, it has apparently improved some things.

UPDATE:

The following story is an example where perhaps the ACA would come in handy…everybody is insured.  This story is about hospitals that get stuck with patients that can’t be moved because of current health care laws and because they have no insurance: http://rockcenter.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/24/11371569-health-care-laws-leave-hospitals-overwhelmed-by-permanent-patients?lite

Imagine what you and I that have insurance are paying to make up for that long term care of that one patient.  With ACA at least everybody would be paying a share of the ‘poor’s health care, not just one set of patients at one hospital.

April 18, 2012

What Gov Walker Doesn’t Tell You:

You might have heard that the Illinois Chamber of Commerce hosted Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker as guest speaker today. One would wonder what a governor with a terrible economic record could have to say about jobs and economic growth. While Governor Walker might be fond of anti-worker and tea party rhetoric, the facts aren’t on his side. Here are some of those facts:

• Job Growth: Since Governor Walker took office, Wisconsin has been in last place in the nation in job growth. Just last year Wisconsin lost 21,000 jobs. Since 2010, Illinois has added over 130,000 new private sector jobs.
• Business Climate: This year, the bi-partisan Tax Foundation ranked Wisconsin 43rd nationally in business-friendly tax environments. Illinois ranks 28th.
• Exports: Illinois grew its exports by nearly 30% in 2011 – nearly double the national average. Wisconsin’s exports only grew 11%, which is well below the national average.
• Working Families: By cutting the Earned Income Tax Credit, Governor Walker raised taxes on low-wage workers with young children. Governor Quinn doubled this same tax credit this year, proving more tax relief to working families.
• Taxes: Governor Walker’s budget increases state spending by over $1 billion, which is primarily paid for by tax increases on seniors, families with children, and home owners. His budget calls for raising property taxes by nearly a $500 billion.

In today’s Chicago Tribune, the Chairman of the Illinois Manufacturing Association highlighted Illinois’ business friendly climate:

“Wisconsin is a great place to vacation, Illinois is where you want to locate your company.”

“Our workers are more productive. Wisconsin ranks 46th nationally in worker productivity. We have twice the gross domestic product of Wisconsin and export twice as much. More businesses are started in Illinois and we rank higher in high-tech employment opportunities. As the nation recovers from the recession, Illinois is creating jobs at a rate 10 times greater than Wisconsin. We are spending more on research and development. We have five times the venture capital investment. We are producing more people with science and engineering advanced degrees. While the recession has been brutal, we are working our way out of it. We are investing in our people and our businesses.” (Read more: Illinois is open for business, Mike Holewinski, Chicago Tribune, 4/17/12)

We hope Governor Walker enjoyed his trip to Illinois, and that he saw for himself what a great place it is to do business. If you want a governor with a proven record of job creation, rather than just rhetoric, show your support for Governor Pat Quinn.

Sincerely,

Team Quinn

April 18, 2012

Asking for Donations

As you know I am a member of the Coles County Democratic Party.  We are having a Spring Carnivale on May 10th at the American Legion.

During the carnivale where Lt Gov Sheila Simon will be attending, we will be having a silent auction, music, games and raffles. We are asking for donations for the auction/raffles from local businesses.

The event is open to the General Public so anybody can bid on an auction item.

I was wondering if you’d like to donate something for the auction from your business? It is quite alright if you’d rather not but I thought I’d give you the opportunity to advertise your business.

If you are interested in donating something please let me know as soon as possible.

By the way, whether you donate or not, you are welcome to the event. Please see the attached document for information on times and ticket prices. I have a few tickets on hand if interested in buying them now.

Thank you for your time.

Email: mycoonce@hotmail.com

April 17, 2012

Will the Real Mitt Romney Step Forward?

Mitt Romney would have been a perfect guest on the old game show called, “What’s My Line“.  “It was a guessing game in which four panelists attempted to determine the line (occupation), or in the case of a famous “mystery guest,” the identity, of the contestant.”  

 We are constantly trying to come up with the REAL Identity of Mitt Romney.

April 13, 2012

Romney’s Wife is a “Stay at Home mom”?

Last night on CNN, Democratic commentator Hilary Rosen — who has no formal role with the Obama campaign — said that Ann Romney has never worked a day in her life. The Romney campaign and GOP establishment went into overdrive on Twitter. “Hilary Rosen attacks Ann Romney, an MS & breast cancer survivor & mom of 5, for ‘never working a day in her life,’” said Romney spokeswoman Gail Gitcho. Ann Romney even started a Twitter account and said this: “I made a choice to stay home and raise five boys. Believe me, it was hard work.” And she’s now set to appear on FOX during the 10:00 am ET hour, NBC’s Garrett Haake notes. The Obama camp quickly distanced itself from Rosen’s remarks. Said David Axelrod over Twitter: “Disappointed in Hilary Rosen’s comments about Ann Romney. They were inappropriate and offensive.”

Knowing how wealthy the Romney family is, do any of you really believe this woman took care of 5 kids, and a home to house them all, all by her lonesome —all her life?  Even if you give them the first 5 being slightly middle class folks, there is still the other 25-30 years of wealth to account for.

Their first child was born in 1970 the last was born in 1981.  Even if you allow for 18 years for the last child, that would make it 1999 when all the kids were legally able to ‘move out’.  That means for the past 12-13 years this woman has done absolutely nothing but campaign for her hubby. 

I take that back.  I just read where she finished her college degree during the first 6 years of her marrage.  Which means she wasn’t a ‘stay at home mom’ during those years.  Their fist two boys were nearly 5 before she graduated.

You could probably also assume that they had housekeeping service, possibly a cook and grounds keeper and even nannies.  So, tell me.  What did ‘she’ do during those past 40 years?

Someone in the media needs to ask if they ever hired any of the above in the past 40 years.  Don’t let them get away with pretending to be ‘offended’ by such a question.

April 11, 2012

“Spring Carnivale”