Barbecue an American Tradition

Barbecue is as American as apple pie. It's aroma evokes memories of baseball games, swimming and family vacations. Mouths water when the grill is fired up. Preparing meat for the barbecue is just as important as the cooking itself. Marinating infuses flavor into the meat, ensuring a delicious family meal that will not be easily forgotten. Marinating is the process of steeping meat in a mixture of an acid (i.e. vinegar, lemon juice, or wine) and spices (i.e. salt, pepper, and herbs.) The acid tenderizes the meat causing it to hold more liquid, making it juicier and more flavorful. Care must be taken when making the marinade, as too much acid will toughen the meat. When marinating poultry, poke holes in the meat with a fork, or use a needle injector. Removing the skin allows the marinade to fully penetrate the meat. (Leaving the skin on compromises the flavor.) Poultry can be refrigerated in a covered container for up to 2 days in a marinade. (Meat should always be covered in the refrigerator.) The time for marinating depends on the size of the pieces as well as the kind of meat. Chicken breast takes longer than steak because it is firmer. To reduce the amount of time needed for marinating cut the meat into smaller pieces. You can also pound chicken flat to cut time. There are a variety of containers appropriate for marinating. Metal, plastic, and glass bowls all work. My favorite containers, however, are plastic bags. When a bag is used a smaller amount of marinade is needed because the air can be squeezed out. The meat is covered completely which allows for the flavors to be infused more quickly and evenly. Plus, the bag can be tossed when the job is done, making clean-up fast and easy. There are a few safety tips to remember when marinating poultry, meat and seafood. Raw meat and fish contain juices which may harbor harmful bacteria. To avoid contamination never reuse a marinade. Do not reuse containers without carefully washing them with dish soap. Don’t marinate meat past the grocer’s "use-by" date. And finally, always marinate in the refrigerator--never at room temperature. Italian Chicken Marinade Place 2 lbs. sliced chicken in a plastic bag. Add 8 oz. Italian dressing, the juice of 1 fresh lemon, a few turns of fresh pepper, and a little salt. Marinate a few hours in the refrigerator. Remove from the bag and place on a heated grill. During the last few minutes of grill time, lay thin slices of lemon over the chicken. Serve the grilled chicken with a small amount of the unused Italian dressing.

Breed Profile: American Quarter Horse

The jury is still out on whether the American Quarter Horse is the first breed to be produced on American soil. Regardless, if it wasn't the first horse to be bred here it was certainly one of the first, and its history traces back to before the earliest days of the American colonies, back to the official royal breeding farms established here by the Spanish. Today, according to the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), there are more than 4,000,000 Quarter Horses registered worldwide, and approximately 150,000 Quarter Horse foals registered each year. The Quarter Horse has a rich and varied pedigree, including Spanish Barbs, Colonial mid-Atlantic Quarter-Pathers, English Thoroughbreds, Andalusians, Mustangs, and Rhode Island Racing Stock, to name just a few. While the Quarter Horse was established before the English Thoroughbred could have a significant influence on early breeding, the greatest influence on early Quarter Horses was Sir Archy, a distance horse to whom many of the greatest 19th and 20th century Quarter Horses can trace their lineage. While Quarter Horses were initially used to race in shorter style races on the eastern seaboard, the longer, four-mile heats that came into fashion in the 1850s pushed the Quarter Horse to the sidelines while leggier horses such as the Thoroughbred prevailed. The Quarter Horse may have all but died out if settlers moving West hadn't capitalized on the strength, quickness, and athleticism that made them naturals for pulling wagons and plows, managing livestock, and doing ranch work. As cattle ranching became in indispensable industry in the United States, so did the Quarter Horse. Quarter Horse range in height from 14.2 hands to 17 hands, and typically weigh 1,000 to 1,500 pounds. The Quarter Horse is known for its short, fine head with small, alert ears and alert eyes set wide apart. The profile of the Quarter Horse is usually straight. The neck of the Quarter Horse is well-muscled, well-formed, and a bit arched. Well-defined withers are set prominently into a short, straight back. The croup is usually strong, muscular, and rounded, and drops subtly to the haunches. The wide, deep chest and long, muscular, and well-sloped shoulders are other characteristics of the Quarter Horse. The legs of the Quarter Horse are usually solid and well-formed, with very muscular thighs, gaskins, and forearms. The joints are broad and clean. Quarter Horse feet are usually strong and sturdy, though they can sometimes be smaller than body size warrants. The most common color for Quarter Horses is sorrel, which makes up about one-third of all registered horses. The AQHA also recognizes bay, black, brown, chestnut, dun, red dun, grulla, buckskin, palomino, gray, red roan, blue roa, bay roan, cremello, and perlino. White markings on the face and lower legs are not only permitted, they are quite common. AQHA does not allow white above the knee or hock, and white body patches are also not allowed. The fact that Quarter Horses started out as short-distance race horses on the East Coast, moved to the West to specialize in ranch work, and now excel in every discipline imaginable is testament to the breed's amazing versatility. While the breed is still best suited for ranch work, short distance racing, cutting, and reining, you can find Quarter Horses in the hunter jumper, dressage, park saddle, pleasure, and trail disciplines. Quarter Horses also have wonderful, willing, and calm temperaments and are good for riders of all ages and abilities.

American Indian Art Auctions: Beadwork

The artworks made by the American Indian incorporate numerous varieties of arts and crafts. The diversity of the American Indian art ranges from the traditional beadwork, pottery and other conventional Native American art to the fine paintings, sculptures, photography and other sophisticated works. And because of that, there are numerous art auctions, of which are found either online or offline. These art auctions feature almost types of American Indian artworks. Later on, we will tackle the American Indian artwork that has the most traditional and historical feature, of which, are the beadworks made by the Native Americans. The beadworks made by the native American Indians have rich meanings in terms of symbolisms; these beadworks also are highly decorative and utilitarian. The process and the beadwork itself is one of the oldest crafts of the Native American Indians. The beadworks are mostly made of stones, bones, shells and other semi precious stones. The some of the beadworks made by the native American Indians that are available these days are made very much the same way as their forefathers had made them. Although few of them are made using today’s modern technology, little has been changed and the process is somewhat the same as the ancient ways. The most popular American Indian artworks are those made of sea shell materials. These types of beadworks are highly popular. Almost every American Indian beadworks are made from sea shell material, from necklaces to purses to almost everything. In the old times, the beadworks made by the American Indians were made mostly of the turtle shells and animal horns and hooves. These native American artworks were often used for rattling or tinkling materials that are used for their dances. These artworks were also worn by hunters in a form of necklaces and were mostly made of wolf and bear claws. They serve as trophies of their kills, and serves as a symbol of the hunter’s expertise. While some of the American Indian beadworks are made of steamed bones and seeds. They were often used for stringing and are mostly blended into various forms. Because of their ever increasing popularity, oriental factories has been replicating, manufacturing and importing beadworks of the Native American Indians. They have been doing it for several decades now. Therefore, has been a competing factor in the beadwork industry of the American Indian arts. And because of that, the craftsmen in the industry of American Indian art industry are greatly affected, losing a considerable amount of income (millions and millions of dollars) because of the fake native artworks made by these oriental factories. In terms of string beadworks of the American Indians, they were mostly made of animal sinews that are finely divided and are attached on clothing. Sometimes, sturdy plant fibers were utilized for this reason. These days, Navajos and some traditional aboriginal American communities still manufacture an ancient type of beadwork that is called the “heishii”. The “heishii” or referred to as “legend necklace” is the most popular type of beadwork, and are used to refer to a legend. Even today, heishii is still used to narrate a legend, with every single bead symbolizing a character. The craftsmen of today’s American Indian art create designs using the today’s technology, by creating actual beadworks through digital means. Thus, the sophisticated and complex beadworks and its designs can be tested digitally before actually manufacturing the piece. Therefore, adding creative process for the craftsmen. These American Indian artworks and its components are essential factors of in the field of archaeology. Not only do they survive history, they also provide numerous fascinating tales and stories that most of which are still untold. As a matter of fact, ancient American Indian artworks are found thousands of miles from seas. Of which is an indication of the numerous trade routes and contacts thousands and thousands of years ago by various cultures. Beadworks crisscross itself through time not just through the history of native American Indians but also in the modern technology of today. The most vital aspect of the American Indian beadwork is the value it represents when it is given among family and friends. Their true meanings are associated with aspirations and essential judgments of a person.

Gangster Movies: America's Love Affair With the Bad Guy

No matter how much we like to see the good guy triumph in the end and those who have committed crimes be punished for them, we can never quite shake off that sneaking enjoyment that comes from bad guys doing what they do and being good at it! Gangster movies have been a part of American cinema from the beginning and by taking a quick look at the genre, we definitely can see why. The two movies that are considered the grandfathers of this film genre are Little Caeser, starring Edward G. Robinson and Public Enemy, starring James Cagney. In both of these films, the gangsters get their comeuppance, but often, that's not what the audience remembers. In Little Caeser, you remember the scenes of Robinson's character Rico living it up in the lap of luxury and in Public Enemy, you fondly remember Tom Powers, played by Cagney doing a delighted little two step on a public street when a girl smiles at him. Gangsters in Hollywood come in a variety of different flavors and Al Pacino has played two extremely different archetypes. In the Godfather movies, he is the elegant and doomed Michael Corleone, the war hero who got dragged reluctantly into the family business, while in Scarface, he plays the crazed killer Tony Montana, a Cuban who rose from immigrant to drug kingpin. Both of these characters were (in very different ways) extremely charismatic and its easy to see how we're drawn to them. There are also quite a few movies that pay homage to the classic gangster movies, or satirize them, depending on your point of view. The prime time show, The Sopranos, features a modern day organized crime association where the members are quietly and sometimes not so quietly obsessed with Goodfellas and The Godfather and will quote them at any opportunity. Brick, a movie about love and death in high school, was heavily influenced by the classic Miller's Crossing in terms of tone and language. The story of the gangster can be seen as the American Dream that is played in fast-forward. It usually starts with a young boy looking for a way out of poverty and with some luck and some help, he makes it to the top. Maybe that's the appeal of the gangster genre, and maybe that's why we're so willing to forgive the things they do to get there. Don't look for a morality lesson when you watch gangster movies. You'll end up rooting for the wrong guy and when he inevitably gets what's coming to him, you'll be annoyed and disappointed. Gangsters top the charts in charisma, but their life expectancy and chances for lasting happiness are practically nil.

Objections To A Single-Payer Plan In America

1) The government can't run anything. I don't trust the government. The current gang in Washington may be a good reason not to trust the government to do ANYTHING right. However, Medicare and Social Security are good examples of systems that run well and on time. People receive their checks the same time every month and health care is provided: on time. 2) I'm a free market person and don't want any part of "socialized medicine." Single Payer Insurance is defined as a single government fund with each state which pays hospitals, physicians and other health care providers, thus replacing the current multi-payer system of private insurance companies. It would provide coverage for the fifty million people who are uninsured. It would eliminate the financial threat and impaired access to care for tens of millions who do not have coverage and are unable to afford the out-of-pocket expenses because of deficiencies in their insurance plans. It would return to the patient free choice of health care provider and hospitals, not the choice that only the restrictive health plans allow. It would relieve businesses of the administrative hassle and expense of maintaining a health benefits program. It would remove from the health care equation the middleman-the managed care industry-that has broken the traditional doctor-patient relationship, while diverting outrageous amounts of patient care dollars to their own coffers. It would control health care inflation through constructive mechanisms of cost containment that improve allocation of our health care resources, rather than controlling costs through an impersonal business ethic that robs patients of care so as to increase profits for the privileged few. Single Payer Universal Health Care would provide access to high quality care for everyone at affordable prices. 3) Canadians have long waiting periods and come to the U.S. for their health care needs. Therefore, such a plan would make for waiting periods in the U.S. First of all, ask almost any Canadian if they would trade our system for theirs. The answer is a resounding "NO." They may have to wait for elective surgeries, for instance, but we have to wait for these kinds of surgeries, as well. Canadians have the option to buy extra coverage to get heroic measures covered, say in the case of Cancer treatment. At 9% of their GDP, they are spending much less than we are as a nation. We, the wealthiest nation on earth, spend 14 % of our GDP. 4) Our country cannot afford to insure everyone. Our country already has enough funds dedicated to health care to provide the highest quality of care for everyone. Studies have shown that under a single payer system, comprehensive care can be provided for everyone without spending any more funds than are now being spent. Not only do we have more than sufficient funds, we are also a nation that is infamous for our excess health care capacity. Typical of these excesses is the fact that there are more MRI scanners in Orange County, CA than in all of Canada. With our generous funding and the tremendous capacity of our health care delivery system, the delays would not be a significant limiting factor in the U.S. 5) Americans do not want "Socialized Medicine." Socialized medicine is a system in which the government owns the facilities, and the providers of care are government employees. In sharp contrast, a single payer system uses the existing private and public sector health care delivery systems, preserving private ownership and employment. The unique feature of a single payer system is that all health care risks are placed in a universal risk pool, covering everyone. The pool is funded in a fair and equitable manner so that everyone pays their fair share in taxes, unlike our current defective system in which some pay far too much while others are not paying their share. The funds are allocated through a publicly administered program resulting in optimum use of our health care dollars. A single payer system has no more in common with socialized medicine than our current Medicare program. Socialism is a dirty word in this country. Universal health care for all has been equated with socialism, and much propaganda has been communicated by the press, by right wing politicians, by medical groups such as the AMA or anyone else who has an agenda to keep the 1500 plus health insurance companies a thriving market with profits that undoubtedly help to pay for their agendas. 6) A Universal Single-Payer would lower the standard of care to a level of mediocrity for everyone, preventing the affluent from exercising his or her option to obtain the highest level of care. Our current system is characterized by essentially two alternatives: either no insurance with severely impaired access to even a mediocre level of care, or being insured by a managed care industry that has whittled down what is available until mediocrity has become the standard of care. Only the relatively affluent have access to unlimited care. The generous level of funds that we have already dedicated to health care, adding to this a more efficient administration with an exclusive mission of optimum patient care well above the mediocrity that we now have, lays the foundation for a universal health care system in America. A single payer system does not preclude the affluent from paying, outside the system, for a penthouse suite in the hospital, or for cosmetic surgery or for any other service that would not be part of a publicly funded program. But if Americans knew the truth, and would turn off their TVs and use that time instead to change this country, using the power of grassroots politics, to make a single payer universal system a reality for all, then we would finally have the best health care system in the world. Any group with the passion to change the world, one issue at a time, with a loving intent, can do it.

Differences in Style of Dress Between Russians And Americans

When you visit Russia, you will be stunned to see so many well-dressed beautiful women on the streets. Miniskirts and dresses are very popular and Russian women have the figures to show them off to advantage. Russian women enjoy looking their best and they are very neat and stylish. As Lynn Visson's "Wedded Strangers" says: “Both Russian men and women find American women badly dressed. Fashion in Soviet Russia was dictated by the regime. In the Soviet era, trying to look attractive and feminine was not easy.” “Obtaining fashionable clothes was both incredibly important and difficult. Looking good was a way of asserting control over oneself in a controlled and drab Soviet existence.” Russian women have a completely different style of dressing than in western countries. They wear short skirts and makeup to make them look as attractive as possible. They like to look sexy. A Russian woman might wear a tight fitting leopard skin top with a short miniskirt. To her, she is dressing stylishly to show off her good figure. To westerners, her suggestive clothing makes her look ‘cheap’ and ‘available.’ Once Russian women come to America, many of them adopt the casual clothing of Americans. That certainly is the case with my wife, who now finds herself in tee shirts and jeans most of the time when at home. Of course, when we go out, she knows how to look her best. When she is in Russia, she would never go out of the house like she is dressed in America.

The Leo Wanta Saga Pt. 3: Americans, If You Want To Save Your Republic, Get Behind Leo Wanta

If Americans ever want to reclaim their Republic, understanding the importance of the story behind jailed Ambassador Leo Wanta is a good starting point. In fact, the Wanta case may prove to be the "story of the century" even though it is cloaked in a complicated web of financial accounting, mystery and intrigue dating back to the end of the Cold War. For starters, as unbelievable as it sounds, Wanta is the legal trustee according to a 2003 federal court ruling of more than 27.5 trillion dollars in repatriation assets held in overseas accounts and under protection for the American people. The vast sum of money, now held in trust, are the fruits of exorbitant profits from Wanta's financial scheme to destabilize Soviet currency at the end of the Cold War after being assigned the task as a U.S. Treasury agent under President Ronald Reagan. Of course, if the money is released, Wanta is due a hefty sum for his own personal use, a fact which scares his Illuminati enemies, including the Bush and Clinton crime families since he will immediately become one of the richest men in the world able to wield enormous power. But in a conversation this week from his Switzerland home, where he is still being held under house arrest for what he calls "bogus" Wisconsin state tax evasion charges, he promised to use all repatriation monies released to him for the "good of the American people" not his own personal gain. "What needs to be done is to create a commission representing the people, using the facts in my case to expose politicians, forcing them to use the money for the public good not for their own benefit," said Wanta in an extended conversation from his Swiss home, suggesting his case could be used as financial leverage to once and for all change the corrupt Federal Reserve banking system. According to binding contractual terms in the 2003 federal court case, under contracts with Wanta's proprietary company, Ameri-tech, about half the money would immediately go into the U.S. Treasury, immediately wiping out the national debt, and the other half would be retained by Wanta and Ameri-trust. "If the money ever gets released with full protection for the American people, I am prepared to use the remaining sum in my private control only for the good of the people for things like roads, education and health care," said Wanta, leaving open the obvious question of who would the American people prefer to trust: proven liars and criminals like Bush and Clinton or Wanta, who appears to be playing ball with the people not the Illuminati New World Order banksters. So the major question looms: Why is 27.5 trillion dollars still in financial limbo? According to Wanta and other financial analysts, as the laws are written today, if the money was returned, it would immediately be stolen, being placed into Illuminati bankster accounts under the crooked private Federal Reserve laws illegally manipulating the financial future of America. In essence, the 2003 federal court ruling protected this from happening and became a big stumbling block to people like Bush and Clinton who wanted the money kept under the public radar screen and secretly distributed into private accounts. "The time has run out for a government appeal. But they never wanted that in the first place because it was something they didn't want the public to ever find out about," added Wanta. And to show the secrecy and corruption going on behind the scenes, Wanta was illegally put in a Swiss dungeon for 134 days in the early 1990's to essentially get him out of the way. Upon his release, he was then extradited and found guilty of "trumped up" and nickel and dime" state income tax evasion charges, spending another long jail term before recently being released on house arrest with 10 years remaining on his 22 year sentence. To add insult to injury while Wanta was jailed, until the federal court 2003 ruling, Bush, Clinton and their Illuminati minions found a devious way to use Wanta's Ameri-trust funds as their "own personal cash cow." To prove his point, Wanta has meticulously documented how "Bush, Clinton and his criminal gang of thieves" have stolen more than 700 billion dollars from Ameri-trust accounts while in jail. And while Bush and Clinton were busy getting their dirty hands even dirtier, Wanta points out they even refused to use $5 billion for a plan which he proposed through corporately funded activities for U.S. Hurricane Evacuation and Recovery Operations from Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. Wanta said the 1999 plan, under a company he formed called Marvelous Investments Unlimited, consisted of four expandable traffic lanes with double track railroad lines, underground freshwater pipeline, electrical systems, gas/oil pipeline, fiber-optic communication trunk line, lodgings, medical facilities, and much more as outlined in the overall MIL/design planning. Wanta added the plan would have commenced in 1999 with full private sector funding solely by "Marvelous Investments Limited" through their lawful ownership and management of Parkhead Financial, Inc. with lawful repatriation corporate MIL/AmeriTrust/New Republic from repatriation assets still being held in trust for the American people. However, the plan, which would have also employed 12-14,000 people, was derailed by Washington power brokers, clearly showing the crooked policy brokers, by axing the Wanta proposal, never intended to prepare the Gulf Coast for eventual disasters like Hurricane Katrina, instead leaving the area vulnerable for heavy disaster and death tolls even when money was clearly available. "Just a sad thought that just maybe American lives taken by Hurricane Katrina would have been lessened and our National Economy may have been strengthened by these corporately funded activities," said Wanta, adding there was plenty of money available to have repaired the defective New Orleans levy system prior to Katrina if politicians has their priorities straight in the first place. "I remain with deep sadness, but hopeful for the survival and reconstruction of New Orleans, and maybe now the original 'Hurricane Routes' can be implemented before I die with heavy heart and old age, something that should have been done by others that remain unknown and not caring for our American Rule of Law, inter alia. May Our Lord bless our departing soul and Our Great Nation."

The Leo Wanta Saga, Pt. 20: Next Few Days Critical In Whether $4.5 Trillion Wanta Money Repatriated For Americans

The Ambassador Leo Wanta story has been ringing in the ears of high level officials all over the world for the last two weeks ever since President Bush and the Federal Reserve Board refused to honor a $4.5 trillion written agreement to release the money for the betterment of the American economy. Wanta had previously entered into an agreement with high level U.S. authorities and a number of world wide banks to repatriate the massive amount of money. But his efforts have been blocked by officials who are afraid to open up a "financial can of worms," leading to the misuse of trillions of offshore funds by Bush Sr., Clinton and many other high level U.S, officials. Wanta has been declared legal trustor of more than $27.5 trillion in offshore funds amassed when he was instructed by President Ronald Reagan to destabilize the Russian currency at the end of the Cold War, which turned into a highly successful financial program beyond Wanta and Reagan's wildest dreams. But instead of using the money to strengthen America after Reagan was out of the picture, Bush Sr. and Clinton devised a plan to use the money for their own underhanded purposes, jailing Wanta in the process, as they then created phony front companies and illegal trusts to use the money illegally. Once Wanta was released from jail, he began a quest to recover the money against enormous odds and a level of corruption called by financial observers as the "biggest bank heist in the history of the world." Although the incredible details of Wanta's patriotic search for trillions is too long and complicated for this short article, the story supposedly had a quasi-ending when the written settlement in May, assisted by two federal court judges, was entered into for the repatriation of $4.5 trillion. However, when Wanta became alarmed by long delays, he gave officials until July 31 to release the money, saying this publicly on Greg Szymanski's radio show, The Investigative Journal, and confirmed by Michael C. Cottrell, treasurer of his AmeriTrust Groupe, Inc., the company established to return the money to the people in the form of an immediate $1.575 trillion in federal tax money and the balance of the money set aside for improving the bewildered American economy. Furthermore, when the July 31 deadline came and went, Wanta vowed to take all steps necessary to recover the money and as this story went to publication, Cottrell said "we are moving forward," remaining confident in the final goal, which is full and final receipt for the money due Ambassador Wanta . Besides the $4.5 trillion settlement, financial observers claim the Wanta saga is the tip of the ice berg, revealing a vast war chest of more than $300 trillion used by the New World Order, headed up in America by Bush Sr. Coincidently, this amount was even confirmed by Bush Sr. in the federal court room of Judge Deborah Batts in 1989 when arrogantly stood up in front of lawyers and said when confronted with the possibility of the exposure and elimination of his illegal cash cow, the Federal Reserve: "Over my dead body will this ever happen and I have a $300 trillion dollar war chest to fight it." Although no firm time frame has been set for the resolution of the Wanta matter, observers claim next week is a critical period to watch. Further, observers say to watch for "the bigger picture" as the Wanta's exposure of the misuse of trillions of offshore money could have reverberations worldwide leading to a possible shake-up in the Federal Reserve banking system and a round up to justice of many high level officials who have been illegally using trillions of dollars behind the backs of the American people and the people of the world. However, while the officials do their financial wrangling, let's look at a sampling of emails, only a handful of thousands sent to Arctic Beacon by average Americans made aware of what has been called one of the most important stories in American history: From Windsong in California: I have been following this closely because of some mention of it on a forum I read quite often. I admire Ambassador Wanta for standing for truth and not being moved by people that have the power and influence on their side. It seems he is up against impossible odds. So I suppose my question is this, in light of the government's refusal to sign off on this, what is Wanta able to do? I hope all are exposed that are to blame for this, but other than that what leverage does he have. My prayers are with him. From Loretta Weston in Arkansas: I am editor for a small independent family-oriented newspaper in Arkansas USA interested in reporting on the Leo Wanta story. We are an all-volunteer staff where all funds go directly to printing/postage costs. However, we want to help spread the word to our over 4000 loyal readers in the US & Costa Rica. How can we get access to the full articles on your web site? From Garrett Seick in Washington state: For my part, I have contacted several journalists, editors and elected officials (WA) and Senate & Congressional Committees (Budget, Finance, etc). The responses/replies received from media-types indicated personal agreement that this issue needs exposure, but that it was outside the "scope" of the publication, or that it was too big to handle. On the elected official side - mostly standard-fare like this from Washington State Senator Patty Murray: (note: my reply to her response appears first) Senator Murray, All due respect, Ma'am. Thoughtful deliberation?... How about action on this issue! Come on, Senator! Get educated about it & bring this to the public eye. If not, you've been duly informed & will go down in history as complicit! Please, take action on this issue & help save America - land of the free (?) & home of the BRAVE. Dear Mr. Seick: Thank you for contacting my office. Your thoughtful comments regarding Leo Wanta are greatly appreciated. Representing the state of Washington in the United States Senate is a solemn responsibility, and matters which come before this body must be decided not in haste, but through thoughtful deliberation. ... Please be assured that I will keep your views in mind. Again, thank you for your comments. I hope you will stay in touch. Sincerely, Patty Murray United States Senator From Jeanette Woodward-Partridge: I wrote you the other day about my fear that if this government got a hold of $27.8 trillion dollars the world would be a nuclear graveyard in short order. I had an idea and I was wondering if you could run it by Ambassador Wanta next time you speak to him. Could these funds be divided among the LEGAL citizens of the US? That is every U.S. citizen, native or naturalized would get an equal share. Can you imagine how that would effect the economy of the world?! I'm so concerned about that money falling into the clutches of the powers that be that as I said I'd rather see it destroyed than to help fund the annihilation of the planet. From Don DeHaven: I have been e-mailing this story to my e-mail list and I have asked that they do the same. My list covers many states and in turn as it gets passed on many more states. I have also e-mailed Congressional reps as to my demands. I know that many on my list have done like wise. Keep up the work and please tell Mr. Wanta that he is not alone. The revolution has started and as many more Americans wake up to the criminal elements in government many more will be involved.

Health Benefits for Americans Part 1 - Is Consumer Driven Health the Answer?

Lewis Gregory suffered a heart attack two years ago that left the family mired in debt. "We have absolutely no way to even dream of paying $125,000," he said. Lewis's story has become more and more common in the US. Fifteen percent of Americans do not have health benefits. And of that number, as many as 80 percent have at least one parent working full-time. They make too much money to qualify for government-sponsored health plans, but not enough to pay for private healthcare. And more still are turned down by health insurance companies because of age limits or ongoing medical conditions. I won't try to list all the reasons that the US healthcare system leaves so many of its citizens without healthcare. But the fact is that more and more Americans are going to bed each night without adequate health benefits or without healthcare at all. And as recently as 2005, the White House proposed $10 billion in cuts to Medicaid. Is there a solution in sight? Well, there just might be. And it comes in the form of Consumer Drive Health benefits programs (CDH). In some ways it operates like any business in a capitalistic society. The healthcare provider with the most reasonable rates and best quality of service gets the most business. Those doctors who are too expensive or don't meet their patients' needs, don't get customers. But there's a twist. With CDH, the consumer has the power of a network of other consumers to help negotiate the most reasonable price possible. Sounding a bit like an HMO? Consumer Driven Health programs are not HMOs or any other kind of insurance. The biggest difference is that the patient and the doctor-not the insurance company-decide what treatment the patient will receive, based on whatever criteria matters most to the patient. And there's another BIG difference. With Consumer Driven Health there are: - No waiting periods - No deductibles - No claims forms - No age limits - No ongoing medical problems exclusions - No hassles That's not all. With Consumer Driven Health benefits, the customer receives many services that insurance companies and Medicare/Medicaid do not allow, including vision, dental, orthodontic, chiropractic, and even cosmetic surgery! If this sounds too good to be true, think again. Consumer Driven Health is set up to be successful. They provide reasonable rates, and quality products and services. But the most important thing is that Consumer Driven Health programs provide a reasonable alternative to a health benefits system that isn't working for a large number of Americans.

Health Benefits For Americans Part II - who pays for Dental, Vision, Chiropractic and Prescription?

Part I of this two-part series focused on that 15 percent of the United States population that is without health benefits. It was disturbing to learn that 80 percent of uninsured households have at least one parent working full-time, and still they are without health benefits. But there is another trend in the US that is more startling! Shrinking health benefits for employed Americans AND retirees alike. What is even more disturbing is that, because health benefits are shrinking a little bit at a time, many people don't realize it's impact until it's too late. Deductibles rise and restrictions are placed on the kinds of services that are available. Dental, vision, chiropractic care and prescription drugs are all targets for restricted services or payout limits. In addition, both employer and government-sponsored health benefits programs are requiring larger contributions from the "insured". In March 2006, Jim Jubak (investment guru) wrote about how his father's pension check was cut in half because the company that he retired from upped his health benefits contribution by $170 a month-with no notice! According to the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, the average cost of employer-sponsored health care plans was $3695 for an individual and $9950 for a family. The employee's average contribution to this plan was $2261, which is more than a 160 percent increase [from 2000 to 2004]. Who should we blame? Highly paid doctors and pharmaceutical companies for skyrocketing healthcare costs? Large companies for not seeing the impact that the aging Baby Boomers would have on their ability to take care of their retired employees? The federal government for not legislating a fix to an overwhelming problem? The fact is that everyone and no one is to blame. And the problem isn't getting any smaller, not for a long time. Fortunately, there are some problem solvers out there. And once again, they come in the form of Consumer Driven Health benefits programs. These programs offer something called "Supplemental Health Benefits" packages. And they work like this. For a small monthly fee, supplemental health program members get discounted rates on the very health services insurance companies are cutting. And the discounts are sizable. AmeriPlan reports up to 80% savings to its members for dental care alone. What's more, anyone can join. No one is turned down for any reason, including preexisting health or dental conditions. The challenges of the US health care system have not gone away. The problems run deep and wide. For those of us who need complete health services-and peace of mind-Supplemental Health Benefits may be the answer.
About The Author
Jim Martinez is a National Sales Director for AmeriPlan USA, offering discount health benefits programs that include ongoing medical conditions, starting at just $29.95 per month.