Hillbilly Posts

This video was shot with a iPhone at a Tea Party Rally in Frankfort, Kentucky August 21, 2012.

This video was shot with a iPhone at a Tea Party Rally in Frankfort, Kentucky August 21, 2012.

Tea Party Rally Frankfort, Kentucky August 21, 2012 and the Tea Party sound system.

Progressives show up at the Frankfort Kentucky Tea Party rally August 21, 2012.

Click here to view photos.

Click here to view photo slide show.

A friend of mine has Prostate cancer and he looked at all of his treatment options. After reviewing all of his options he decided on proton therapy at the MD Anderson Cancer Center. Prior to the therapy MD Anderson Cancer Center checked his insurance, and according to my friend, MD Anderson Cancer Center told him if Medicare would cover the treatments his secondary insurance would cover it. After 20 plus treatments his secondary insurance refused to pay and he his having to appeal that decision even though Medicare is paying their share.

Then we have 90 20mg Crestor tablets that cost $494.08 in the USA when we can by 90 20mg Generic Crestor tablets for $127.80 in Canada. Why is  this?

I get the feeling when we are sick, with cancer, the insurance companies don't want to pay and if we need medication big PHARMA wants to rob us.

When will members of Congress stop lollygagging in the Sea of Galilee and giving us advice on legitimate rape and start working for us?

It's hard to believe a member of congress, Rep. Todd Akin, would say something like this:
“If it’s a legitimate rape the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.”

Then we have Republican Members of Congress showing their asses skinny dipping in the Sea of Galilee.

Washington Post
According to the report, Rep. Kevin Yoder (R-Kan.) took off his clothes and jumped into the sea, joining a number of partially-clothed members, some spouses and family members and the staffers, “more than a dozen sources, including eyewitnesses” told Politico. Read more.

Give me a break!!!

When:  Sunday, August 26, 2012
Where: Robert F Stevens Courthouse Lexington, KY.
Time:   4:00pm EDT

As women across the country celebrate the 92nd anniversary of the 19th Amendment and the 42nd anniversary of the Women's Strike for Equality, our own Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul have been systematically voting against legislation that ensures that our equality is protected.

Recently, both Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul voted against the Senate version of the
Violence Against Women Act and then a few weeks later, both voted against The Paycheck Fairness Act.

The women of KY will not be silent! On Aug. 26, 2012 we will gather together and make our voices heard! Click here to visit the Facebook site.

We've wrote about this sort of stuff before, places where dictators, right-wing governments, corporations and paramilitary squads work hand in hand to enslave and kill people. Corporations cal this a good business environment.

There's a big difference between $494.08 and $127.80 when it comes to 90 20mg Crestor tablets.

I'm writing this article about Medicare Part D's over pricing of Crestor, but the same is true of countless other drugs. I'm not asking you to take my word, just go to Canada Drugs and compare what you're paying for your prescriptions here in the USA to the price you would pay in Canada.

Here in the good old USA, crony capitalist society, 90 20mg Crestor tablets cost $494.08 and in Canada, where healthcare is taken seriously and Canadians aren't trying to screw their citizens and/or their senior citizen, so big PHARMA and the insurance companies can make big bucks, 90 20mg Crestor tablets cost $127.80.

In 2011 Medicare Part D started paying for half of brand name formulary drugs when folks enter the doughnut hole, but paying half of over inflated brand name formulary prescriptions can mean paying twice as much as the prescription is worth. It's nothing but greedy profiteering at the expense of America's senior citizens and America's senior citizens don't seem to have a clue.

August 14, 2012 my wife partially entered the Medicare Part D doughnut hole and her share of a 90 20mg Crestor tablet refill was $226.44 and Medicare Part D paid $267.64. Her next 90 20mg Crestor tablet refill will cost $247.04 and Medicare Part D will pay the other half $247.04. Big f*?king deal. I can get the 90 20mg Crestor tablets in Canada for $127.80.

United Health Care Medicare Part D Cost For 90 20mg Crestor tablets $494.08.

Canada Drugs Cost For 90 20mg Crestor Tablets $127.80. Note, you can get generic Crestor in Canada.

The Facts about Health Care Reform and the Medicare Retiree Drug Subsidy

The Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) created an out patient prescription drug benefit (known as MedicarePartD). The law included a subsidy for employers who provide retiree drug benefits at least equal in value to the Part D benefits. The subsidy was intended as an incentive for employers to continue to provide benefits.

The subsidy reimbursed employers 28percent of the cost of actual spending on prescription drugs for Medicare eligible retirees.

The subsidy was provided tax free. The cost of providing retiree prescription drug benefits was already tax deductible. So,employers could deduct the total cost of their retiree drug plans, plus get a subsidy, and not have to pay any taxes on the subsidy. For example, an employer who paid out $100 million in retiree drug benefits would qualify for a $28million subsidy. The Company’’s real expenses were only $72 million in benefits, but it was able to deduct the full $100 million from its taxable income.

The Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003, in my opinion, was designed to help employers move their retirees off of company funded prescription drug plans they had promised their retirees for years to Medicare Part D and in turn the employers got tax subsidies and the retired employees got the shaft Medicare Part D and a terrible prescription drug plan. To put this in very simple terms: Employers shifted their prescription drug plan cost to their retired employees.

This is what my employer, Michelin, did to me.

Michelin Press Release December 15, 2005
Michelin North America is modifying its prescription drug plans for part of its retiree base in the United States. Recently announced changes to the U.S. government Medicare program –– specifically, the introduction of Part D prescription drug coverage –– have permitted Michelin North America to offset a portion of the dramatic increases in prescription drug costs and further strengthen Michelin’’s global competitive position.

The modifications Michelin North America has made to its prescription drug plans will be effective Jan. 1, 2006, and already have been fully communicated to Michelin’’s affected U.S. retirees. These changes will result in a $ 476 million (€€ 380.6 million∗) reduction in the Group’’s projected benefit obligation (PBO) and in Michelin realizing in its consolidated accounts a gain before taxes of $ 317 million (€€ 253.5 million*) in its 2005 results. In addition, Michelin North America will realize in 2006 annual savings in benefits-related costs in the United States of an estimated $ 37 million (€€ 30 million*).

With these new measures, Michelin North America continues to fine-tune the balance between the healthcare needs of its U.S. employees, retirees and their dependents and the requirement to remain fully competitive in the global marketplace.

This wasn't what I was promised during my 30 plus years at American Synthetic Rubber Corporation (a subsidiary of Michelin), but it's what I ended up with. A Medicare Part D bull$hit prescription drug plan that lines the pockets of the insurance companies, big PHARMA, and corporate America leaving my pockets empty.

Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003 is 415 pages of bull$hit that only  a big PHARMA and corporate lobbyist could understand and I suspect they understand it because they wrote it. How else could you get legislation with doughnut holes, over priced drugs and tax subsidies for their rich pals and screw America's retired workers all at the same time?

So what's the difference between $494.08 and $127.80? Well when you get on Medicare Part D you'll know the difference and you'll be pissed just like I am. My advice. Don't get sick!

Oh, by the way the corporate goons in Washington, DC, our corporate owned Representatives, are working 24/7 to keep us from getting our prescriptions filled in Canada and keep the money flowing to their big PHARMA masters.

RxRights.org
Section 708 of the new FDA Safety and Innovation Act (S. 3187) gives government agencies the authority to seize and destroy prescription drugs that are imported for personal use.

We are calling on our supporters to let the Obama Administration know how you feel about this unfair regulation.

This provision was clearly crafted by big drug companies at the expense of public health. It has no business being a part of the FDA bill. Over a million Americans each year rely on importation to access their vital medicines at prices they can afford.

I guess I'll see how this works when I get my wife's prescription filled at Canada Drugs. Stay tuned.

Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003

Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003

Many of us have been avoiding going to the new Facebook timeline because it's confusing and to put it mildly it's terrible. Well the new timeline is here whether we like it or not and according to a recent poll 90% hate the new time line.

ELITE DAILY
Now a survey of 4,000 Facebook users has revealed that just eight per cent said they liked the change.

Navigating the new Facebook timeline is archaic and is, in my opinion, evolving backwards. Redditt let Facebook know how they feel about the the new timeline with this graphic.

Image Credit: civi7ian on reddit at http://www.reddit.com/tb/t33qr

Below are several links to sites to help with your transition to the new timeline.

• Customize Facebook’s Cover Picture – Dimensions & Template

• 4 Facebook Timeline Settings to Revisit
• 10 Facebook Timeline Designs That Will Blow You Away [PICS]
  
• INFOGRAPHIC: Facebook’s shift from private to public

• 90% Hate Facebook’s Timeline: Controversial Feature Is Supported By Just One In Ten Users

Mitt Romney loves to tell his audiences he doesn't want the USA to become like Europe and then says this: “I believe in America." Really Mr. Romney. Could it be when Mitt Romney says  “I believe in America" he's speaking of South America? Yes South America where dictators, right-wing governments, corporations and paramilitary squads work hand in hand to enslave and kill people. Corporations call this a good business environment and it seems Mitt Romney and his corporate pals are ready to import this good business environment to the USA.

Peoples World
When Romney was, in the early 1980s, spinning off Bain Capital from its parent company Bain and Company, he was told that he had to find new people to put up the initial capital. So he made a connection with some members of the elite "14 families" that have historically run El Salvador, many of whom were living in Miami at that time because of the civil war raging in their homeland. Early contributors of a total of $9 million to Bain's startup were members of the de Sola, Poma, Dueñas and Salaverria families. The facilitator for this hookup seems to have been Panamanian-born banker Frank Kardonski, who died earlier this year. Read more.

Mitt Romney believes in pure unadulterated, free wheeling capitalism with no restraints and a right-wing government to enforce their policies. Hell these folks will even try to privatize rain water.

Democracy Now
AMY GOODMAN: How did they get control of the water? I mean, here, you turn on the tap. You don’t pay.

OSCAR OLIVERA: [translated] The government, under a law that was passed, conceded control of the water under a monopoly to Bechtel in a certain area. So that means that Bechtel tried to charge a fee and had the monopoly power over a very basic necessity for people. The law said even that people had to ask, had to obtain a permit to collect rainwater. That means that even rainwater was privatized. The most serious thing was that indigenous communities and farming communities, who for years had their own water rights, those water sources were converted into property that could be bought and sold by international corporations. Read more.

When it comes to Corporate Capitalism there's nothing like a good right-wing paramilitary death squad to help you reach your projected profits.

Democracy Now
The latest controversy to surround Bain concerns how Romney helped found the company with investments from Central American elites linked to death squads in El Salvador. After initially struggling to find investors, Romney traveled to Miami in 1983 to win pledges of $9 million, 40 percent of Bain’s start-up money. Some investors had extensive ties to the death squads responsible for the vast majority of the tens of thousands of deaths in El Salvador during the 1980s. The investors include the Salaverria family, whom the former U.S. ambassador to El Salvador, Robert White, has previously accused of directly funding the Salvadoran paramilitaries. In his memoir, former Bain executive Harry Strachan writes that Romney pushed aside his own misgivings about the investors to accept their backing. Strachan writes: "These Latin American friends have loyally rolled over investments in succeeding funds, actively participated in Bain Capital’s May investor meetings, and are still today one of the largest investor groups in Bain Capital." Read more.

Is the USA ready for this:

Global Labour Institute
For nine years the 450 workers at the Coca-Cola bottling plant in Guatemala City fought a battle with their employers for their jobs, their trade union and their lives. Three times they occupied the plant - on the last occasion for thirteen months. Three General Secretaries of their union were murdered and five other workers killed. Four more were kidnapped and disappeared. What follows is the story of their struggle. It was written by Mike Gatehouse and Miguel Angel Reyes, and published in June 1987 as a booklet, "Soft Drink, Hard Labour", by the Latin Amêrica Bureau in London, with the support of War on Want. Read more.

Corporations and murderous tyrants.

e-vision
Robert Bowman recently wrote, “How many times have we done it in Nicaragua and all the other banana republics in Latin Americas? We replaced them [popular leaders] with murderous tyrants who would sell out and control their own people so that the wealth of the land could be taken by Domino Sugar, the United Fruit Company, Folgers, and Chiquita Bananas” (2). Bowman confirms the moral depravity that is inherent in U.S. economics policies towards Latin American nations. Consider the 1973 C.I.A. sponsored Chilean group with resulted in the assassination of elected president Salvador Allend (Aued 1; “Country Sheets” 2). C.I.A reports reveal that Allende was assassinated because of his unwavering views promoting socialism and anti-capitalism, which affected U.S. trade with Chile (Jost 6; Aued 1). Blake Aued alleges that “The C.I.A. organized Allende’s assassination and installed General Augusto Pinochet as dictator…. [Pinochet was] a right-winged dictator or junta who will oppress the will of the people and institute economic policies friendly to U.S. corporations” (Aued 1). Out of thirty high-ranking officers responsible for the assassination of Allende, ten were graduates of the School of the Americas (“Country Sheets” 2). Click here to read more and see the "Works Cited."

Corporate Capitalist tried to take over the USA and install a right-wing dictator, in 1934. Click here to read Jules Archer's free online book "The Plot to Seize the White House."

General Smedley Darlington Butler exposed a right-wing Corporate cabal coup attempt to over throw Franklin D. Roosevelt.

The good news is:

RT
In a symbolic rejection of US capitalism, Bolivia announced it will expel the Coca-Cola Company from the country at the end of the Mayan calendar. This will mark the end of capitalism and usher in a new era of equality, the Bolivian govt says.

Washington Post
A security guard at the Family Research Council was shot and wounded Wednesday morning after a scuffle with a man who expressed disagreement with the group’s conservative views in the lobby of the group’s headquarters in downtown Washington, authorities said.

Michelle Malkin's Twitter Response: Update: Left offers fake sympathy for FRC shooting; qualifies w/ ‘totally had it coming, haters’ ==> http://twitchy.com/2012/08/15/crosshairs-left-calls-family-research-council-hate-group-reacts-to-shooting-shooter-yelled-about-frcs-values/