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Is Being Desperate the Answer?

November 29, 2012 in Our World

You are reading something written by a desperate person who is gravely concerned about where our country is headed.

Here's some background. Nowhere else in the world, even after adding all other countries together, will the creativity and inventiveness of the United States be equaled. At no time in human history, has so much progress been made than during the years since the United States constitution was enacted in 1776. During this relatively short period of time the amount of inventions and advances in mankind dwarf all previous history eras.

I am desperate today because we are facing an unprecedented decline in human productivity and creative thinking while at the same time we are facing serious global economic challenges. It is like the world is hell bent on reversing the advances made during the past 233 years, which have resulted from the unbridled thinking and creativity that comes from free enterprise and capitalist system economics. In the United States where free enterprise has shined like no other place in the world, government encroachment into free enterprise decision-making is threatening to dismantle the entire economic system.

I am desperate because free enterprise allows for real advances in technologies, manufacturing, and medicines based on people who recognize a great need and who are also desperate to find a solution to meet that need. These people become inspired to find success because this system allows significant reward for those who take the risks. The free enterprise system, like none other, allows this type of need and solution relationship to grow and prosper. I am desperate because this system appears to be faltering and losing its momentum based on all the wrong reasons. On the other hand, I am inspired to find ways of using this situation to promote ideas and innovation that are positive. I want to turn my desperation into inspiration.

Many of you will argue that I am over reacting to the current global recession and that like past recessions you think we will come out of it better than ever before. You will argue that the free enterprise system is too unregulated and needs more control. Some of you will even argue that people who use this system to reach real success must also share the rewards with others who do not contribute, and that somehow being successful is bad or in some people's eyes "evil". Some will accuse me of being negative or unrealistic and argue that changes for more control in an unfettered system are a natural evolution for insuring fairness to all. Baloney! One only needs to look at the former Soviet Union or the present day North Korea, Iran and Venezuela to see the folly of such thinking.

Look, I feel desperate because the economic engine that has driven America's unprecedented success for its entire history and, which has been the leading example for most developing nations to follow, is coasting to a halt. The economic engine behind America is small business. Small business creates seventy eight percent of all new jobs in the United States that collectively equals ninety seven percent of the country's Gross National product (GNP). I am naturally a positive minded person but I am finding it easier to be negative as we see the results of what happens when financial controls and government giveaways favor big corporations and labor unions over the needs of small business. Compounding my feeling is the government's creation of a new national debt burden unlike anything ever experienced. This debt burden on future generations will be crippling and force future generations to be born into a form of "pre-ordained servitude" to government.

Now, what I share with you next may surprise you. Even though I am finding it easier to be negative, I have made a conscious decision not to be negative. As a matter of fact, negativity is the last thing in my mind. On the contrary I feel very positive even at the same time I am also feeling extremely desperate.

Now, that I have you scratching your head and thinking that Bob has lost it, let me eliminate the confusion and put your mind at ease. In today's challenging times it is very easy to start hand wringing, thinking "chicken little" thoughts about the sky falling and spouting "the end is near" words. Yet, it is exactly in these times that history has repeatedly shown that during periods of the greatest change comes the periods of the greatest opportunities. It is during these periods that innovation, inventiveness and creative thinking are at their highest intensity. There is an old saying that "from desperation comes inspiration." Well, I am desperate and I am very inspired!

Just research the majority of new ideas that created a new business or in many cases a whole new industry. They all came from a thinking process that was attempting to solve a key problem or fill a critical need. Thomas Edison made over 10,000 attempts at creating the light bulb before he succeeded. Henry Ford was desperate to create the automobile and was inspired to create the first real mass production assembly line. Desperation can come in many forms. It can be individual or it can be a group of people. It can be a population segment or it can be a whole country. When the United States entered World War II the entire country was desperate but then it became inspired and mobilized to win. Right now, we are living in desperate times. Right now, we are living in desperate times. People everywhere are looking for solutions to solve their personal challenges. Some in this process will think in broader terms than just for themselves; they will think about finding solutions that will have application on a wider scale which will affect many others seeking the same solutions. This type of thinking is what has given us new modern life altering devices and processes. This is the thinking that has advanced civilization and from which whole new economic engines and industries have evolved.

This is the thinking that we need, now! Call your government representative and demand that you want support for people with new ideas; you want support for people who start new businesses. You want support for creating new private sector jobs that historically come from small, not big business. Tell your government representative that it is a fairy tale to believe that big business can shape an economic upturn. Let your representative know that the answer is small business and that the process of fertilizing a new idea with free flowing credit, reduced government regulation, lower taxes and support for the free enterprise system is the solution to fixing the economy. Remember, all big business was at one time a small business. They all started from an idea in somebody's mind. Everything we can think of that was created by a human started from an idea in somebody's mind.

Now, you know why I am desperate and gravely concerned for finding ideas that can make a difference. I am inspired and I urge you all to become inspired to start your own search for that one idea, a positive life altering idea that can change your life and the world we live in. Now is the time!

 

The sleeves are rolled up and the gloves are coming off!

October 23, 2012 in Our World

When there is real work that MUST be done, there is only one way to get it done. Jump in with both feet and ask others to do the same.
It has been tough but we here at the Over60Exchange have finally pulled ourselves up from the muck of political opinions fostered by special interests. The quicksand suction of political partisanship and truth bending is very strong and hard to overcome but we did it. This effort has not been easy but it is well worth it. Now, we are extending our hands to you to do the same. Here's why -
Our country's problems demand attention that transcends politics.The very survival of our country as a world leader in freedom and individual success is at great risk of being replaced with mediocrity and averageness. Anyone who has ever run in a race quickly learns that it is much better to be running in front of the crowd than to be in the middle or at the end. Only the front runners have a clear vision and steady pace, while everyone else is either sprinting or walking. As a country, we are in danger of losing our front runner position. If this is what you want please ignore what we are telling you. On the other hand, if you intuitively feel that what we are sharing with you is true, roll up your sleeves, we have a challenge for you.
The Over60Exchange has an opportunity to become a real honest alternative to the AARP. In meetings all across America , the AARP is demonstrating that it no longer effectively represents the grassroot issues of its members as it once did. The AARP is in the insurance business and unfortunately they are also too close to the ugly politics associated with special interests while trying to get their share of government dole outs. Now, there is nothing wrong with selling insurance but we do think there is something big time wrong with taking member money and using it for issues they do not support.


It is very simple.
Here at the Over60Exchange we believe that older Americans need a place where they can go for information and tools that they can use to stay active, productive and earning income. We do not believe that a person should be turned into a 'vegetable' just because of age. We believe that people should be allowed to contribute at any age and to be fairly compensated for what they can do. Our country needs the experience and knowledge of people who have worked decades in productive employment. Further, we are not advocates of retirement in the sense of the word where one fully stops working or being productive. We believe staying active and productive for as long as possible, whether you need to earn money or not is very healthy both physically and mentally. This belief does not eliminate volunteerism. We believe that being a volunteer is just as important as ever but we also know that each person must have financial strength too. To this end, our goals are to support active, happy and rewarding lifestyles.
Since we first created the Over60Exchange, it has changed dramatically. Our vision is for something truly unique and powerful. Each day we are a little closer to this goal but we still have much to do to accomplish this. If we wait to have everything perfect, it will be too late to help you and others like you, so we are telling you to become a member now. It's no cost to join. We are constantly working on new content and technologies to give our members the ability and support needed to live active and productive lives for as long as they choose.


Here is the real danger and why taking action today is so important.
There are forces at work in our country that do not want older people to remain active and productive. These forces would rather that we all just move aside and sit in a rocking chair or find a quiet place out of the way. If you still have something to share and give in terms of your experience, education, skills, talents and abilities, this 'step aside' attitude should greatly trouble you. For during this period, these same forces are working on ways to separate you from what you have earned whether it is through increased taxes, new fees, higher costs, reduced benefits or too many other ways to list here. This is the danger we are all facing as we age. If we sit back and 'vegetate' we will lose. On the other hand if we stay active, productive and remain a force in the workplace, we also remain a powerful force to protect ourselves while helping our country. This is the choice we are all facing today.
Pass the word to join the Over60Exchange, today. Forget that we do not have everything perfect. This will come with time and money. What we need now are numbers- tens of thousands or even millions of new members to join. With numbers we will become a powerful voice for helping each other and for helping America.

Keep America’s Older Workers Employed or Else!

October 23, 2012 in Our World

Right up front, here's the major point -

STAY WORKING...DO NOT RETIRE!!

We cannot afford to have our older workers stop working or leave the country's work force.

There are two key reasons for this -

1. The education and experience this group controls is invaluable to our country's economy and their contribution must not be lost.

2. This group must stay employed and productive for as long as possible to avoid placing demands on Medicare, Social Security and Healthcare that could force the collapse of each.

Using common sense and simple math, it is easy to conclude that having an average of five million new people per year start drawing social security and Medicare benefits under the present funding and management structure is impossible to support. But, many lawmakers would have you believe that reorganizing both Social Security and Healthcare into a massive government managed program will solve all issues. This violates common sense and a simple understanding of what motivates people to be productive and therefore able and willing to pay for programs like social security and Medicare.
Creating a massive program funded by cuts in services and much higher taxes on the very same people who can create the biggest momentum for an economic turnaround is both foolhardy and near sighted. People work best when there are no artificial ceilings on what they can earn. Creating taxes that progressively discourage people from being productive is not the answer and actually places a straightjacket on people by dramatically restricting their willingness to be creative. This is exactly the opposite of what has made America great.
America has been built on ingenuity and unfettered creativity. The vast majority of America's success has come from private enterprise done with little to no support from government. Government has greatly benefited from this private productivity through taxation but government on its own has done very little to be productive and creative. By fostering productivity and ingenuity in people we can solve our present economic woes. By keeping our older workers active and employed we are using this highly educated and experienced group of people to create and foster new innovation. By doing it this way, we harness a tremendously invaluable amount of experience and focus it on creating new businesses, which in turn creates new jobs. Seventy eight percent of all new jobs come from small businesses. Ninety seven percent of our country's GNP comes from small businesses.
In summary, creating incentives through lower taxes on businesses will also create incentives to keep older workers employed and productive. Employers know that they cannot afford to lose this huge pool of talent and experience at a time when they need it the most.

Back to Basics…Invention & Innovation Can Save Your Job abd Save America!

October 23, 2012 in Our World

America was built on the backs of people who freely invented and innovated their way to success. People like Franklin, Edison, Ford, Gates to name a few, plus thousands more who have been the role models and inspiration to millions of people worldwide This incredible process has been a magnet to millions of people who immigrated to the U.S. with dreams of one day experiencing their own success stories.


Over the past two centuries, America has led the world in the creation of new technologies and life altering tools. Yet, if one would look at the country today, it could be easy to reach a different conclusion as to what has made us successful. Actions such as massive government financial bailouts of businesses that are 'too big to fail' or government officials becoming the heads of industries in automotive, banking and finance create a different picture. In our quick look, we are seeing a 'snapshot' that is far different from the history that preceded it. What happened? Did we miss something? Has small business lost its ability to create jobs and opportunities for economic growth? Has the entrepreneurial spirit so alive and vibrant for hundreds of years grown weary and stale? Has something else taken its place that is better and more effective?


According to U.S. Department of Commerce statistics, the U.S. economy is comprised of 99.7% small business that is defined generally with having less than 100 employees. Yet, this category called 'small business' is responsible for almost 78% of all job creation. Yes, that is worth repeating…78% of all new jobs, that's eight out of ten new jobs are created by small businesses in the United States!


If you knew this fact and wanted to create economic growth quickly, what would you do? If you are a government decision maker tasked with turning our economy away from the brink of depression, what would you do? Based on this fact, one would believe that in an economic crisis government would do whatever is possible to keep small business going and growing. This only makes sense…common sense. Yet, the opposite is happening. Small businesses all across the United States are drying up and dying due to a lack of credit and financial support from banks, financial institutions and government agencies. Even the Small Business Administration (SBA) historically a key ally of small business is totally ineffective and unable to provide support because of the financial system meltdowns. Government is discussing how to tax small business more instead of how to help small business generate more income. Does this make any sense? Does saying "Stove give me heat and I'll put the wood in" make any sense? So, what does all this mean? What can be done?


Here's a suggestion. The United States Congress must go back to work. Instead of political game playing and an atmosphere of 'she said, he said' playground squabbling, it needs to focus on what has historically made this country's economic engine go. It is not government giveaways. It is not government handouts to big business and it is not massive spending on programs that will take years to implement. The answer is much simpler. It requires the immediate loosening of credit and the funding of small businesses that are started and managed by energetic, risk taking and hard working entrepreneurs.


Look, when all else fails, go back to the basics. Vince Lombardi, the great professional football coach for the Green Bay Packers knew that it was following the basics that created success. Regardless of the team's experience level standing before him, when the Packer pre-season training camp opened, he would always start off by holding up a football and saying…'Gentlemen, this is a football!'


Now, to every person in our state governments, to the United States Congress and to our President, we respectfully must say…"Gentlemen and ladies, this is small business!"

To Resume or Not to Resume – That is the Question.

October 22, 2012 in Our World

By Bob Brewster

Yesterday I met an old friend for coffee. He had taken early retirement at age fifty six and is now sixty two. He told me the past six years were very good for him and his family but now he needed to start working again. There were several reasons given for this and they were not all financial. It seems that he still had a real need to feel productive and liked the idea of contributing toward helping a new idea or business become successful. The money was also important because he found that he still wanted to do things with his family that required more money than what he could afford to take from his retirement savings.

Our conversation jumped around on various ideas for what he could do to get back into the workforce. One subject was his resume. It seems that there is a lot of opinion today regarding whether a person with a lot of experience really needs to complete resume or just a brief summary. One expert,Jill Konrath, has found resumes to be detrimental and after reading her book "Get Back to Work Faster", I had to agree with her in advising my friend. However, even though my friend agreed that his resume needed to be a lot shorter, he could not come to the conclusion that he did not need one at all. So we compromised and agreed that he would create a 'summary' in lieu of a resume.

Here are some rules we decided to follow for his resume "summary".

Updating your resume or creating a Resume Summary

As an older experienced worker, you have a lot to share from your background. The problem is that even though this is very important to you, it is probably not important, at least not at first, to an employer or business owner. The challenge is how to select what in your background you need to take out and what to leave in.

Since a resume is a reflection of you, it is also your chance to make an impression in a few short seconds that you will be allowed. Yes, that's correct. Even with all your experience and education, you will have maybe 10-15 seconds to make an impact statement about yourself before your resume hits the proverbial "circular file." This is a big challenge and if not carefully handled, it will result in a lot of frustration for you.

This 'screening' process is unfair at best but that is the way things are handled today. Unless you can personally hand your resume to the hiring decision maker while looking them in the eye as you state your reasons why they need to hire you, you are just a another name flashing before the screener's eyes.

Your resume summary by choice needs to be short, to the point and well written. It must be carefully proofread for even the slightest error in grammar or spelling will destroy its effectiveness. Additionally, you may need to create several versions of your resume summary with each version geared specifically toward the industry, job or employer you are approaching. Having a "one size fits all" resume is no longer an option for it requires too much reading and digging from the screener.

Additional tips for the Resume Summary

1. Have your name, address and telephone number at the top of the page. Include your e-mail address if you have one.

2. Do not include career objectives. They can be given in your cover letter or an email where your resume is attached. Always use a cover letter of some type that is very brief about your professional history and accomplishments.

3. Your resume summary must be positive and to the point. Use as few words as possible and never exceed one page. You are not writing a book or novel. This is not an autobiography about your self. Do use the word 'I' and keep all paragraphs short.

4. Leave out all personal information such as height, weight, medical condition, marital status, date of birth, hobbies, etc. These are irrelevant to the screening process and may even cause you to get "kicked" out.

5. Only use experience from your past 10-15 years or 3-4 employers. Avoid using dates. These again will be used against you in the screening process and are not necessary at this point.

6. List educational institutions in reverse chronological order. It is not necessary to list date of attendance or graduation.

7Your resume summary does not need a list references or even the statement "References Available Upon Request."

8. Leave out any statement for leaving past positions or statements that could have a negative inference.

9. Leave out salary history or requirements. Your cover letter can address this by stating that you would be glad to discuss it at an interview.

10.Proofread your resume for spelling or grammatical errors. Ask someone else to proofread to too. Most mistakes are not obvious to the writer and usually stick out like a huge 'smudge mark' on the paper to an employer.


Making you Resume Summary one page in length is extremely important. Using bullet paragraphs will help you accomplish this. Also, you can break your summary into parts. Here are four parts as a suggestion -

1. Heading - Your name and contact information and a brief statement of what you want to accomplish, if hired.

2. Industries - A bullet list of industries or company names where you gained your experience. (This is a list not a paragraph on each, only a line.)

3. Professional Skills- You bullet list what you do best and what special skills you have as assets to accomplish them. (Writing, speaking, computer programs, presentation, leadership, CDL driver, RN, MD, etc.) Thinks about those things that are assets in any employment position.

4. Past Significant Accomplishments
- You bullet list your education, past positions where you had significant accomplishment, like "helped take program from $10 million to over $100 million in five years", or 'helped launch new division that successfully resulted in 100 new employees and profitability' or any recognition you may have received from industry, community or civic organizations. Do you hold a record for something? Received a special award? Remember, these are bullet lines so you must hit your target each time without "fluff" or extra words.


That's it!

In summary, the days of resumes with your entire life condensed to several pages of tiny hard to read print are over. Today's employment seeker must be brief, to the point and able to communicate in only a few words the benefit he or she is bringing to the employer or business. Do not worry about the rest of details. They will come out as you progress through the screening process. Good luck!

World Talent Opts to Leave USA

October 22, 2012 in Our World

The title above is the front page headline in the September 21, 2009 USA Today newspaper. The article goes on to state that "more skilled immigrants are giving up their American dreams to pursue careers back home, raising concerns that the U.S. may lose its competitive edge in science, technology and other fields." This process is being called "reverse immigration."

The article also states that "what was a trickle has become a flood" and that "in the next five years 100,000 immigrants will go back to India and 100,000 to China…for the first time in America history, we (U.S.) are experiencing the brain drain that other countries experience."

What does this news mean to you, if you are one of those older workers wanting to stay active in the work force or if you are someone who may have retired early but now needs to return to work? It is another strong indicator that there is a growing opportunity for you to still use your skills, talents and abilities. It means that your experience and education still has application to helping the country's economy recover and grow.

This also means that the opportunity to launch your own business becomes a stronger option. Tough economic times always drive the entrepreneurial instincts. Whether it is a franchise with established systems and support or it is something brand new and perhaps revolutionary, your opportunity is always better when economic times are more challenging.

When looking out the window at the world around you, it may be easier to see the faults and negatives of high employment, business failures and reduced opportunity versus the hints of opportunity. The above fact that we are losing talented people to reverse immigration is one of those negatives. But, when you put this fact in its proper perspective, it is really an indicator of opportunities.

In summary, do not look for opportunities where there is already a crowd. Use your age, experience and education as assets to help a company or business grow, This can also separate you from lesser experienced people. Look for indicators in less obvious places where there are fewer people, where people are leaving and where your experience and education could be more appreciated and needed. If working for someone else or going out on your own, focus on finding creative ways to fill a need by offering to be innovative and open to new ideas. Then as people leave positions or move out of the country, you will still have many options for continued income.

Aging, Mirrors and Failure

October 22, 2012 in Our World

I recently had the privilege of hearing John C. Maxwell speak. He is the author of a book that I recommend to everyone titled "Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes into Stepping Stones for Success". Mr. Maxwell is a former minister turned author and public speaker. His book is a must reading for anyone suffering any type of failure in life and puts into very understandable language why we need failure to succeed.

Many of us hitting our sixties in these trying times may be thinking about past events that did not go right in our life. For that matter, a person at any age may feel like a failure for many reasons but it seems to be easier to do as we age. This is especially true if we are part of the two thirds of the working population that has little to no retirement savings and are staring at social security plus (hopefully) a limited pension as our only income sources to live.

In looking at my personal situation, I for one could look back and fix blame on many different events and decisions that I experienced over the years for not achieving certain goals. I could find it very easy to feel sorry for myself on things I do not have or failed to achieve because of them. In reality, as I have aged, I have found it more difficult to rebound from a failure or mistake and easier to blame circumstances on things out of my control. I know this is wrong. This is where books like 'Falling Forward' bring me back to a more positive mindset. Consequently, now when I feel this way, it is for only a few minutes, not days, weeks or months. It's a choice and I choose to make it this way.

At one time or another, we are all victims of feeling sorry for ourselves because we do not have what we think we should have. We feel like a failure. The truth is, there are so many ways of measuring success in life, it is very difficult to determine what success is or what failure is. This makes measuring success and failure an unreliable science at best. For example, is having money in the bank but poor personal relationships a success or failure? Is having a great family and plenty of friends but no money a success or failure? Is having a good steady job and income doing something you really do not like to do a success or failure? Or, is doing something you love to do but not making a good income a success or failure? The scenarios for what could be a success or a failure are unlimited.

Here's the message I want to share with you. I have learned that feeling sorry for myself gains nothing. I have also learned that every time I think I have failed, it was only another door opening for me to step through. The choice has always been mine alone not somebody else's. Whether I step forward and go on to the next opportunity is an attitude and mindset that I choose. Dwelling on the reasons why I was in a particular negative situation, always seemed like such a waste of time to me. It was like having a flat tire on my car and looking around for someone to blame. Fix the tire and get going!

As we age, we put pressure on ourselves for what we have or do not have. This pressure is usually blaming ourselves or someone else. The fact that we may feel older or look older only compounds this feeling of blame. Looking in the mirror doesn't help when someone with wrinkles and thinning hair stares back. The only thing that really works is the understanding and acceptance that everything goes in cycles and that it is up to us to make sure that the down cycle is much shorter than the up cycle.

In summary, we can choose how we live life. If you are in your forties and fifties, do not look back in regret that you have left your youth behind and your better days are gone. Look forward and use the lessons of your past to establish the foundation for your future. If you are in your sixties, seventies or even older, the same rule applies. Do not look at yourself and feel that you have no time left to achieve or accomplish something. Instead look at all your assets that include education, experiences, contacts, friends and family. And above all else, do not focus on financial condition alone. Sure, money is an obvious requirement if you want to do anything you want but it is only a portion of what makes life rewarding. If you want to stay working, stay productive and remain a contributor helping someone else or some business to be successful, look at all your assets, your skills, talents and abilities. They are very valuable to somebody else. I have learned that regardless of what it is, if you have something to sell, there is somebody looking to buy. (This is where you can use the "Over60Exchange Skills Bank" to highlight personal skills, talents and abilities)

Remember, life is full of choices. You can choose to look at your failures as lessons or your lack of success as 'stepping stones'. It is up to you.

Age, Stress and Your Money

October 22, 2012 in Our World

By Bob Brewster


In 1998, I published a book titled "Income Surfing" which provided a formula for developing income over a broad base of different sources.

Now, here it is eleven years later. I am bringing up this fact because in the book we referenced a chart called the "Social Adjustment Rating Scale." This chart was the result of research conducted in 1967 by two psychiatrists Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe who examined the medical records of over 5,000 medical patients as a way to determine whether stressful events might cause illnesses. In 1970, Rahe carried out another study on 2,500 sailors to verify the first stress study as a predictor of illness. This second study confirmed that the stress table was indeed correct and it is still just as true today.


Why is this important to you?


In today's changing times, we are all experiencing pressures from a multitude of directions. The source of these pressures creates stress in our lives. Our actions or reactions to this stress will determine how we react in our relationships with other people.


As we age, stress affects us differently because of how we feel about ourselves. Our ability to overcome stress changes with our perception of our age. A major part of how we "feel" involves our health. Our health is our most precious resource. It needs to be protected to avoid creating a negative affect on the rest of our life. In this time where health care is at the forefront of the news, the best way to save money, now and tomorrow, is to not spend money on avoidable health care problems.


I have recreated the Social Adjustment Rating Scale Chart so that all of you can see exactly where you need to place emphasis for handling this stress and also what decisions you can make that will help you live a better and more controlled life. This is important because life moves in cycles. Sometimes things are perfect and sometimes things are falling apart. How we handle these cycles determines our ability to shorten the bad times and lengthen the good times.


To give you an example of how important your understanding needs to be for how stress affects your life, here's a little test. On a separate piece of paper answer the following questions (The answers will be found when you click on the chart link.)


(1) Are financial problems less or more stressful than a divorce?

(2) Is a home foreclosure less or more stressful than retiring from a job?

(3) Is getting fired or laid off from a job less or more stressful than being arrested for a minor violation of the law?


(4)Is bankruptcy more or less stressful than getting married?


(5) Is having an illness less or more stressful than a spouse that loses his or her job?


Social Adjustment Rating Scale Chart

Many of you will be startled at the answers, as well as where the other stress factors fall in the chart scale. I hope this helps you during these challenging times.

Is Government Deciding When Life Will End?

October 22, 2012 in Our World

First, let me explain something so that there is no misunderstanding. The Over60Exchange is APOLITICAL. That means we are not ideologues on the right or left. We are on the ground of common sense and what is good for America. We are not for political correctness but we are for fairness and truth. If you disagree with our viewpoint, please feel free to respond with yours.

At this writing, I am very disturbed at the news coming out of Washington . Since January 2009 , there has been nothing but bad news upon bad news and it is not the kind of bad news you might expect.

We are so wrapped up in the economy and fighting two wars that we have completely ignored the signs of a "cancer" within our nationally elected representatives. For a lack of a better term, I will continue the use of the word "cancer" because I cannot think of anything better to describe something that can kill you, if ignored, yet if treated early; it can be stopped or dramatically slowed down.

The cancer I am referring to is how our government has overnight implemented or started the implementation of controlling what we think, do or say. None of this I might add is either constitutional or in the best interest of our country.

After the presidential election, I recognized that there were serious weaknesses in our political system with much of this weakness due to unlimited terms of our elected representatives on the federal level and a tax system so unfair that the overwhelming majority of our country's costs are borne by a small minority.

It has been difficult to not speak out. I have wanted to be quiet in deference to the process but today's news has forced me to take action. What news, you ask? Let me tell you. It is the details starting to be revealed about the Healthcare bill presently being forced through congress for passage. It is the news about the over 1,000 pages of massive changes that very few people have read or truly understand. Fortunately, we have people in this country that have taken the time to read the entire 1,000 pages and now the news is seeping out. Just like a sewer pipe with a small leak. We can smell the leak but we cannot pinpoint where it is. This is what's happening with this healthcare bill.

This bill is not only a massive revision in the United States healthcare system; it is also a manifesto for the control and determination of how long people will be allowed to live. This is Hollywood fiction come to life or worse, this is history repeating itself under the premise that this is good for everyone and it must be done to save our way of life. My friends, these are lies!

Here are some examples of what is in the proposed Healthcare Plan - (Excerpts taken from article written byBetsy McCaughey, Betsy McCaughey is founder of the Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths and a former lieutenant governor of New York. betsy@hospitalinfection.orgHer remarks are after she read the 1,000 page proposal from both the Senate and House). Sentences shown in Italics & underlined are my added clarifications.
#1 And as soon as anything changes in your (existing healthcare plan)contract -- such as a change in copays or deductibles, which many insurers change every year -- you'll have to move into a qualified plan instead (House bill, p. 16-17). This means that you will have no choice, even if you can afford your own insurance, you must buy into the government plan.
#2 - When you file your taxes, if you can't prove to the IRS that you are in a qualified plan, you'll be fined thousands of dollars -- as much as the average cost of a health plan for your family size -- and then automatically enrolled in a randomly selected plan (House bill, p. 167-168).This means that you will be FORCED under government threat to pay for health insurance by joining the government plan, whether you need it or not.
#3 - It's one thing to require that people getting government assistance tolerate managed care, but the legislation limits you to a managed-care plan even if you and your employer are footing the bill (Senate bill, p. 57-58). The goal is to reduce everyone's consumption of health care and to ensure that people have the same health-care experience, regardless of ability to pay. This means that if you have the financial means to pay for operations, procedures or special care on your own, you will not be allowed to do it under the pretense that this will be unfair to others who cannot afford that option.
#4 - Nowhere does the legislation say how much health plans will cost, but a family of four is eligible for some government assistance until their household income reaches $88,000 (House bill, p. 137). If you earn more than that, you'll have to pay the cost no matter how high it goes.This means that the cost, regardless of its level, will be borne by everyone but the more you earn the more you will pay leading to a system of government taxes without any limits or budgetary control.
#5 - The price tag for this legislation is a whopping $1.04 trillion to $1.6 trillion (Congressional Budget Office estimates). Half of the tab comes from tax increases on individuals earning $280,000 or more, and these new taxes will double in 2012 unless savings exceed predicted costs (House bill, p. 199). The rest of the cost is paid for by cutting seniors' health benefits under Medicare. This means that Seniors/Boomers, which are America 's fastest growing population segment, will have their healthcare coverage reduced to whatever level necessary to make up the costs for everyone else. And, this is the part that is beyond conscience, seniors will be counseled every five years or sooner , if sick, on the options for ending life early to avoid unnecessary medicines and treatments.

Even though there is a lot more, I will stop here because quite frankly our elected government officials have collectively lost their moral compass. This is not a Healthcare Plan, this is a massive population control plan. This is not a plan based on people and families taking personal responsibilities for their own well being and expenses, this is a plan that rewards bad personal healthcare decisions and tells people that personal responsibility is no longer a virtue in life.

No war could damage this country as much as the damage that is being done within. Whatever your political persuasion, forget about it. This is not politics. This is not common sense. This isn't even good business. This is about pure unadulterated power with the desire of one small group to gain power over the much larger group. This is more than the redistribution of wealth, this is the destruction of the very moral fiber and soul of America . With the passage of this Healthcare bill will come more controls that will force you to make decisions based on government need and not your own. Do not make the mistake in thinking that this is just Healthcare. It is not! It is much, much more than that.

Cancer can be treated, slowed or even stopped. But, all cancers left alone will grow and destroy the body. There is a cancer growing in Washington . Look, let me make my point even clearer. Have you ever walked down the hall way of an average nursing home? You will see lots of elderly people sitting in wheelchairs, regular chairs or on scooters. Many are there in the same spot day after day. Some cannot speak and some cannot see or hear. Nevertheless they are there and they are somebody's children, mothers, fathers, grandparents, aunts or uncles. They are alive. Who in their right mind will advocate going down that hallway and selectively choosing who gets treatment or not? This is what the new government healthcare plan is advocating. If this plan passes and it becomes acceptable on a dictated government level, what's next? Where's the line? Ever hear the term "Final Solution'?

IT TAKES A VILLAGE!

February 28, 2011 in Our World, Uncategorized

My Dad was one of six children in a broken home. At age six, he was parted out to his maternal grandmother who told him "stay out of trouble and stay out of the way". His brothers and sisters were sent to other families across the town. This was his upbringing and perhaps the key reason why throughout his life he tried to stay in touch with all his siblings and their families. Between his desire for a close family and my Mom's support for this, I was raised with an understanding of how important it is in life to stay in touch with everyone - family and friends.

Now, I am using this important experience to tell you that it is equally important for seniors (all of us over age sixty) to stay close with each other, especially on matters dealing with our lifestyles, finances and health. Together we can truly help each other.

Prior to his passing away, my Dad often stated that it took a village to raise him and his siblings. Now, I am telling you that this same premise applies to all of us over age sixty. The Over60Exchange is your online "Village". This is the place where you will find support, information and ideas for everything and anything to do with your life.

The times are tough for everyone today and based on what we can see for the future, they will remain like this for a long, long time. Therefore, I urge you to make Over60Exchange your "Internet Village" for support and information.

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