Getting a little bit Presidential

So I don't always like to weigh in on politics. They can be pretty divisive amongst many. They also provide people a great deal of stress when in fact their stress is associated with something they cannot change or fix at the moment.

I'm just not like that. I'd rather get worked up about something, add in a little stress and then find solutions to implement and fix the problem.

Being from a conservative family has definitely led an absolute leaning towards conservative politicians. However unlike some that I know I don't think that democrats, or President Obama is pure evil. Just individuals with some ideas different from my own. I regularly hear Rush Limbaugh or Glen Beck vilify many democratic leaders. This is a pretty poor approach in my opinion. Quite frankly although these commentators do have their moments of truth, they do little to help positively change our country other than to provide more distrust in both sides of the aisle.

I'm not discrediting liberal talk show hosts, they're just as bad, and it seems many news commentators are also liberal leaning with the ability to spin things in their own direction. I am not a tea party'er, although I would support some of the candidates that are affiliated.

I am not a believer in the multitude of entitlement programs that the nation has. I would differ from either party that believes in creating more or not properly fixing those that are currently offered.

I've said for over two years that they should make people more accountable for medicaid and medicare. Put them in charge of a set amount of funds and don't allow them to go over that threshold so willy-nilly. For example, Samantha and I have an HSA account through our school district. If my doctor bills are more than what is present in my HSA account I will need to draw from my checking account to cover the difference. Their must be some individual accountability. I'm finally hearing some candidates discuss that in the last debate. I'm not ok with blank check legislation.

On the flip side I also feel for those with mounting medical costs. Their is several whammy's here. #1 Cost of insurance and #2 Cost of medical care. Both of these need to be addressed in a major way. Insurance is high because if you go to the doctor these days for a routine visit your going to get hammered for about a $100 bill.

This was an extreme shock for us in moving to Gillette. Our well-baby checks that we did in North Dakota ran about $55 in North Dakota. In Gillette, you double that, and add about $15. Then still pay additional if they need to poke your child. On another note, the difference in medical care was actually better in our opinion in North Dakota.

I don't blame insurance companies for raising their costs as medical conglomerates have so steeply raised their own. Prices always go up, not down. Unless your dealing in a commodity like corn or wheat.

Don't even get me started on medication. We give the stuff away for free to about 90 some countries while I had to pay about $350 for some allergy medication. It worked, don't get me wrong, but I'll suffer next time over paying that kind of money.

To tie this briefly into education, a student can enter college and decide nursing or eduction. If they decide to go into education they're likely to enter the job market at between $30-$40,000. They'll have the privilege of educating tomorrow's future. In twenty years they get a bump in their pay, speaking in round numbers of $1000 per year (I know this only happens in places like Wyoming, but humor me.)

Year/Pay
#1- $35000
#2- $36,000
#3- $37,000
#4- $38,000
#5- $39,000
#6- $40,000... Now they just completed their master's program that they borrowed $15,000 for. Being prudent and not pay a pile of interest on they're going to attempt to pay it off in 3 years.
#7- $44,000 minus $5,000 = $39,000 (they got a pay bump for having the degree as well)
#8- $45,000 minus $5,000 = $40,000
#9- $46,000 minus $5,000 = $41,000 (PAID OFF! Not including interest, but I don't have the desire to fill all that in)
#10- $47,000
#11- $48,000 minus $1000 = $47,000 (oh yeah, state continuing ed, that comes out of your pocket.)
#12- $49,000
#13- $50,000
#14- $51,000
#15- $52,000
#16- $53,000 minus $1000 = $52,000 (same ol' continuing ed)
#17- $54,000
#18- $55,000
#19- $56,000
#20- $57,000

Twenty Year Total= $915,000

That's a chunk of change. Granted that's twenty years worth of sweat and blood. Now shifting back to the medical field and that nurse. The average nurse makes $71,692. Check out this link

So if that's the average lets say the average 22 year old nurse makes about $50,000. Granted that should be a four year RN. In twenty years, with overtime (it's not that I believe nurses don't work hard. I know they do, and it's easy to get what many of them have) they can make upwards of $90,000. I am not sure how there can be a $40,000 shift. In twenty years that's an average pay increase of $2,000 per year.

Year/Pay
#1- $50,000
#2- $52,000
#3- $54,000
#4- $56,000
#5- $58,000
#6- $60,000 - $3,000 = $57,000 (I assume they've had to get some type of education, lets say they've spent $3,000 to improve their craft)
#7- $62,000
#8- $64,000
#9- $66,000
#10- $68,000
#11- $70,000 - $3000 = $67,000
#12- $72,000
#13- $74,000
#14- $76,000
#15- $78,000
#16- $80,000
#17- $82,000
#18- $84,000
#19- $86,000
#20- $88,000

Ok my math stinks. That's not $90 but your getting the picture.

The total is= $1,374,000.00 over a twenty year period.

A difference of $459,000. Between the two careers.

Yet their is such a large protest over the amount that teachers make! I find the disparities to be quite dishonest. My point is that schools are locally overseen by citizens of the community. When the budget is handled the citizens look at the collective cost and take a collective gasp as to the cost of educating the children in their community. I get it, staffing a school full of teachers will take a good chunk of that school's money. But that's what that school is their for. To make matter's worse state government dictates the amount of money that schools receive. Could you imagine if that was done in a hospital? Where peers oversee the amount that nurses doctors and all employees will receive? I bet it would be a little different in the compensation department.

Don't view this as me whining. I could have decided upon a different career path. I just get a little upset when education is constantly on the defensive when other careers are actually costing the average joe more $ than teachers are receiving to educate our nations children.

Ok, this blog was supposed to be about the republican debate from the other night. First I was impressed by many of the candidates. I was mostly disappointed with Bachmann, Pawlenty, Santorum and Huntsman. I consider none of these to be real candidates with real ideas or ability to accomplish a whole lot should they enter the white house.

I know Bachmann is a media darling, but I was unimpressed with her. She seemed really to just spit out stuff that would get people fired up but had little content. Pawlenty was the biggest dissapointment. He needed to stay away from attacking Bachmann and discuss what he believed in. I think he should run for senate and get to Washington to see what he can accomplish in that regard.

Of the four remaining candidates my favorite on the night was Ron Paul. Paul is an absolute brain with real answers to help our country. I love it when a guy is able to say something that is unpopular but says it because he knows that it's the right thing for the country. Their was a question regarding the constitution, right away the commentator conceded that Paul is one of the foremost experts of the constitution. Wouldn't that be someone we want? His answers felt as though he was an old school professor up at the front of the classroom with nothing but a tweed jacket and a piece of chalk ready to educate the world. He doesn't look like a politician or talk like a politician. He just tells us what he believes and what the laws of the country allow. I love his get out of Iraq/Afghanistan mentality. He's right. It costs WAY to much money to be their for people that can't help themselves.

Herman Cain was second in my opinion. I love honesty and he's emulates it with every word he speaks. I would love to see him on the ticket in some fashion. He's a businessman not a politician. I believe that he will be a major factor in doing things to help the economy. He was also very well spoken, ten times better than our current president.

Mitt Romney wasn't aggressive in his approach. Samantha was just saying yesterday that he does little to attack his opponents, other than Obama, and spends a lot of time talking about what he believes in. I can respect that. He looks like a US President and he is a very distinguished individual. He is a little more of a politician. But I believe has the right political/work background.

In fourth for me was Newt Gingerich. Although I like him the least I was surprised with how intelligent the man is. Like Paul I felt that when he spoke it was with knowledge and experience. He understands the way government operates, and I believe he has the ability to know where government needs to cut back. He won't be a popular president, but I bet he'd make a good one. Heck I'd be terrified if I was 2 minutes late for a meeting with him. He give the appearance of being very demanding and prompt. I can respect that.

I'm interested in Perry and whether or not Palin jumps in especially since Pawlenty jumped out. Anyways, just my take on things!