AMERICA FIRST

 

AMERICA FIRST TOP

The administration use of “America First “is an advance phraseology. It does not mean America only. For those who felt that the Trump administration would only focus on the USA, you are incorrect. In this Geo-Political world, America is not the only thing. The President must develop and implement Domestic and International policies. There is no abandonment of “America First “and it seems to me that the Domestic policy of Jobs and Infrastructure improvement is well on the way. However, now is the time to develop a clear International policy.

Russia, Syria, North Korea, Iran, and China will dictate the development of the base of an International policy. These are the cards on the table but remember there are 52 cards in the deck. The administration was dealt these cards and they have to play the game. Russia, Syria, North Korea, Iran, and China were the cards left on the table by the previous administration. The previous administration had no clue how to play this Geo-Political high stake poker. So, they dove their tails between hind legs and ran away. The Trump administration is now faced with “expect the unexpected”. All administrations are characterized by the way they deal with the unexpected.

The President knew that he would have a day of reckoning with Russia, Syria, North Korea, Iran, and China. However, I do not think he wanted to deal with all at the same time. Surprise the curtain is drawn, the play is about to begin, and they are all on stage. These are the times that try men’s souls. The rest of the world is going about their daily activities not realizing there is a serious situation on stage. The Administration would be prudent to take two mental steps back but remain physically committed. Now is the time to have a strategist assist in superimposing “Winston Churchill” in this situation.

Russia is not interested in a fight unless assets are damaged. China is not interested in a confrontation. China is all about business right now. Iran is bluffing and is basically biting off nose to spite face. Iran is a rogue state that was hoping the Presidential election results of 2016 was different. Iran mis-calculated and failed to realize that the American political system is dynamic. Syria is not going anywhere and the Syrian people want Assad out. The Syrian situation is like a marriage gone bad. Once one person says divorce, the marriage is over. The Syrian people have filed for divorce from Assad. The marriage is over.

That leaves us with North Korea. The Administration would be prudent to take two mental steps back but remain physically committed. North Korea is not changing their address anytime soon. Mail and Missiles can still be delivered. Regrettably, the rhetoric and provocation from North Korea has become unbearable. Japan and South Korea has just about had enough. You walk away from a bully or confront. Those of us who support the President strongly suggest confront. There are those of us who do not need to put our hands on the stove to determine its hot. We can feel and smell the heat even if we are not in the kitchen. Frankly, the hot coal which is North Korea is beyond “Red Hot”, it is “White Hot”. Delivering missile water would provide a good coolant.

Sending coolant to North Korea will undoubtedly produce reaction from China. Nixon will not be happy if we have a military confrontation with China but he understands that action delayed is resolution denied. Nixon would not wish country to be destroyed by the crackpot in North Korea.

NORTH KOREA

POLITICAL SIDE SHOW

SIDE SHOW TOP

Claims of Russian involvement in the Presidential Election of 2016 and surveillance of the Trump transition Team are Side Shows. Enough, let’s move on and forward.

Democrats have decided to spend the next four years embroiled in these issues. Democrats in effect are taking an in-place sabbatical with the intent of sabotaging the Trump administration. The Democrats have signaled that they will not participate in Governing and are comfortable with accomplishing nothing. The electorate is tossed to the wayside. The Democrats are talking heads engulf in discussions about the inconsequential.

My fellow Americans have no interest in claims of Russian involvement in the Presidential Election of 2016 or surveillance of the Trump transition Team. The American people want their needs addressed: Health care, Jobs, Tax cuts, crumbling Infrastructure, the Murdering of our Children by Illegal Immigrants through violence and Non-violent acts.

Our Children are being murdered by Illegal Immigrants on the street with Guns and in some cases Machete. Our Children are being murdered by Illegal Immigrants with the distribution of narcotics. Our defenseless young people are under attack and the Liberal Democrats are avoiding and ignoring the reality. Instead they continue to conduct themselves like bobble – head dolls and engage in inconsequential discussions.

There is a quiet and soon to be loud war being conducted on our Young people by Illegal Immigrants through violence and Non-violent acts. They are killing our Young people one by one. These acts are not incidental it is part of a concerted effort. We need to get these Illegal Immigrants and Gangs out of country. This is a serious matter and demands immediate attention.

Our young people are being targeted and introduced to opioids that have high addictive qualities. Our young people are dying in alarming numbers. This is a serious development. Our descendants and potential future Leaders are being killed openly and surreptitiously. This is a serious matter and demands immediate attention.

The previous administration turned a blind eye to the situation. I hope the current administration pay attention and devote resources to eradicate. I also hope that the talking heads Democrats will join in this effort. If Democrats fail to participate in large numbers individuals who do not should be Repealed and Replaced.

How did the Russians interfere with the Presidential Election of 2016? Did they change the programming of the Voting machines? Did the Russians sneak into homes the night before the election and threaten the electorate and command them to vote for Trump? Is there a citizen who had a visit from the KGB on the night before the election and was summarily commanded to vote for Trump or risk being sent to Siberia the day after? If so, step forward and announce. The Democrats would like to hear from you.

If Democrats plan to mourn losing the Presidential Election of 2016 for the next four years then go home. Leave your Time Card in the rack on the way out. You will not be paid and will not be allowed to cast an absentee ballot on any Bill. Your vote will be confiscated and counted alongside the votes of the Republican Party.

Enough with claims of Russian involvement in the Presidential Election of 2016. Enough with the Political Side Shows. Let’s move on and forward with the business of Governing.

SIDE SHOW BOTTOM

HEALTH CARE (THE MORNINGS AFTER)

COMPRROMISE

This article could easily be about the “mourning” after but the morning after characterization should suffice. The Trump administration should understand that you have to accept defeat so that you can appreciate ultimate victory. Let’s have a dialogue about what happened, is happening, and should happen with respect to “America Health Care” legislation. Despite the fact that I am the only one speaking we can still have a dialogue. I write and you read.

If the intent of the “Freedom Caucus” is to do nothing and bring Government to a halt, then they are doing a terrific job. If the “Freedom Caucus” believe doing nothing will metamorphose into a Landmark decision, then my feedback is, awake from that delusion. Each “Freedom Caucus” member should stop collecting pay checks and deposit said funds to the Health Care entity of choice until satisfactory legislation is signed by President Trump.

To Speaker Ryan, ask not what the Republican Party can do for you but what you can do for the Republican Party. Your required action should be self-evident. The Administration and the Party need to move Forward. Please do the right thing. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

After seven years of discontent the Affordable Health Care proposal on the table is inadequate. I find it difficult to believe that this is the best Republican Party Law makers can draft. It is possible that the principal architect is mentally inebriated from being too close to the project for that period of time. It is possible that the principal architect is subconsciously locked into his understanding and interpretation of the issue that it is impossible for him to construct a satisfactory plan.

What happened: The issue was misunderstood and therefore the almost submitted resolution was doomed to failure. The good President knew that. Now that he understands the issue and the process, I am confident he will take two steps back and the needed step forward. As a reminder. the question was and still is, how do we provide Health Insurance for millions of Americans who are uninsured and in some cases underinsured.

The reason we have a Health Insurance issue is because most Americans have coverage which is connected to their employment. Some of the uninsured are no longer employed and Cobra is too expensive. Others are employed but their Health Insurance is too expensive and simply cannot afford it.

Republican and Democratic Party Law Makers should step back and reevaluate. Sometimes you can get so close to a project that it is impossible to see the forest from the trees. This is where the Principal architect and those close to him are. The frame work of the almost submitted plan can be maintained but before a satisfactory resolution is reached, there will need to be significant Re-write and Amendments.

Each time affordable access to Health care is discussed, cynics and the dis-ingenuous raise the subject of Entitlements. Leave entitlements alone. Such discussion only muddies the water, clutter the table, or create distraction.  Leave entitlements alone. People either paid for or earned their entitlements. Therefore, that subject is irrelevant. There is no need to steal from Peter to pay Paul. However, there is need to reduce your commitment to Peter so that you can address “Affordable Health Care”. The bottom line is can you provide assistance regarding Health Care for your citizens. I think you can. Let’s do it. Not doing it is not an option.

What is happening: the “Freedom Caucus” and Democratic Party are basking in their nothing victory. Both groups are enjoying a “NOTHING BURGER”. I encourage them to wipe that grin off their faces and start working. If they do not, their constituents should Repeal and Replace everyone of them.

What should happen: Truth be told, drafting a satisfactory “Affordable Health Care” proposal is a challenging Project but not insurmountable. People need to step back and assess the situation, respectfully compromise, map a resolution, and then move forward to remedy. It seems to me mapping a resolution should include but not limited to the following bullets:

  • Do not fix or legislate on what is not broken. Citizens who are employed and like their Insurance should be left alone. However, leave the door open should their status change.
  • Those employed but underinsured should be included in the plan.
  • Those employed but cannot afford to be insured should be granted access and provided for consistent with Direct Primary Care entities like Atlas MD.
  • Those unemployed and not insured should be granted access and provided for consistent with Direct Primary Care entities like Atlas MD.
  • For those unemployed and not insured or employed but cannot afford, the Government should develop a partnership with local Clinics to service these individuals and reimburse clinics on a pre-determined or defined scale.
  • Government should encourage Direct Primary Care entities like Atlas MD and local Clinics to engender solid relationships with Local and Regional Hospitals for support or advanced procedures.
  • If unemployment status changes, then individuals should declare and contribute to the cost of their care.
  • Cost for care should = (Historical average Dollar benefits/ current Annual Salary) * Cost for each Service
  • If the above is not maintained and ultimately satisfied, then the annual amount for each Tax Year should be withheld from Refund.

Are we there yet? It will be a tragedy if Law Makers cannot focus long enough to Repeal and Replace the current fiasco known as “Affordable Health Care”. Any legislation with the word Mandate will fail to deliver according to expectations. There seems to be a fixation on the word mandate to the extent that it continues to be a part of Legislation from the Clinton era to now.

Will someone put the word Mandate back into the Dictionary. Equally relevant, any legislation which tries to give more than the necessary credence to Insurance companies will fail to deliver according to expectations.

Law Makers need to determine how much and what involvement should Insurance companies have in the development of the ultimate document. If Insurance companies are given a major role in the crafting of the ultimate document, it will fail to deliver consistent with the real need of the people. Do not expect Insurance companies to assist in the legislation of equitable and in some cases free Health Insurance for the people.

Yes, in some cases based on a means test or affordability scale some of my fellow Americans will require free Health Insurance and Care. And why not. If you can go abroad and provide free Health Care, then why not do it for our citizens. Charity begins at Home.

No Insurance company is about to craft legislation that will take money out of their pockets willingly. That is just not good business practice. However, this matter is not about the business of Health Insurance. It is about the people and their need for affordable Health Insurance devoid of complicated verbiage. Insurance companies will not lose money. Sure, they may lose money on the Health Insurance line item but they will make it up on another line. Do not believe that the Health Insurance companies only sell Health Insurance. The current White House Administration should know that very well.

Now is the time to repeal the current fiasco known as “Affordable Health Care”. Timing is everything. The Republican Party and the newly elected Administration must seize the moment and act accordingly but with more forward thinking. Everyone is consumed with the cost to Government. I agree that is important but we are not there yet. The current stage is the draft. The current stage is the Pro Forma. No plan is complete without revision. There will be time enough for counting, when the deal is done.

Millions of Americans are, or soon to be without Health Care because they cannot afford Health Insurance. I realize that Legislators feel the need to provide input and be part of the Legislation and that is awesome but let’s get on with the provision. I hope the “Freedom Caucus” and Democratic Party are aware of that reality.

Where will the money coming from? The money comes from a reduction of each current line item on the budget reduced by what you think provision of Health Insurance will cost. Any detail discussion of this premise is unnecessary in this article. The best Financial person in the Administration should be able to take what I just wrote and convert it into a revised budget.

LEGISLATION

 

HEALTH CARE (THE WAY FORWARD)

Health Care Debacle Top

After seven years of discontent the Affordable Health Care proposal on the table is inadequate. I find it difficult to believe that this is the best Republican Party Law makers can draft. It is possible that the principal architect is mentally inebriated from being too close to the project for that period of time. It is possible that the principal architect is subconsciously locked into his understanding and interpretation of the issue that it is impossible for him to construct a satisfactory plan.

From the start the issue was misunderstood and therefore each submitted resolution was doomed to failure. The question was and still is, how do we provide Health Insurance for millions of Americans who are uninsured and in some cases underinsured.

The reason we have a Health Insurance issue is because most Americans have coverage which is connected to their employment. Some of the uninsured are no longer employed and Cobra is too expensive. Others are employed but their Health Insurance is too expensive and simply cannot afford it.

Perhaps Law Makers should step back and reevaluate. Sometimes you can get so close to a project that it is impossible to see the forest from the trees. This is where the Principal architect and those close to him are. I suppose the frame work of the idea can be maintained but before a satisfactory plan is reached, there will need to be significant Re-write and Amendments.

Each time affordable access to Health care is discussed, cynics and the dis-ingenuous raise the subject of Entitlements. Leave entitlements alone. Such discussion only muddies the water, clutter the table, or create distraction.  Leave entitlements alone. People either paid for or earned their entitlements. Therefore, that subject is irrelevant. The bottom line is can you provide assistance regarding Health Care for your citizens. If you cannot, then we should shut up.

Truth be told, drafting a satisfactory “Affordable Health Care” proposal is a challenging Project but not insurmountable. People need to step back and assess the situation, map a resolution, and then move forward to remedy. It seems to me mapping a resolution should include but not limited to the following bullets:

  • Do not fix or legislate on what is not broken. Citizens who are employed and like their Insurance should be left alone. However, leave the door open should their status change.
  • Those employed but underinsured should be included in the plan.
  • Those employed but cannot afford to be insured should be granted access and provided for consistent with Direct Primary Care entities like Atlas MD.
  • Those unemployed and not insured should be granted access and provided for consistent with Direct Primary Care entities like Atlas MD.
  • For those unemployed and not insured or employed but cannot afford, the Government should develop a partnership with local Clinics to service these individuals and reimburse clinics on a pre-determined scale.
  • Government to encourage Direct Primary Care entities like Atlas MD and local Clinics to engender solid relationships with Local and Regional Hospitals for support or advanced procedures.
  • If unemployment status changes, then individuals should declare and contribute to the cost of their care.
  • Cost for care should = (Historical average Dollar benefits/ current Annual Salary) * Cost for each Service
  • If the above is not maintained and ultimately satisfied, then the annual amount for each Tax Year should be withheld from Refund.

Are we there yet? It will be a tragedy if Law Makers cannot focus long enough to Repeal and Replace the current fiasco known as “Affordable Health Care”. Any legislation with the word Mandate will fail to deliver according to expectations. There seems to be a fixation on the word mandate to the extent that it continues to be a part of Legislation from the Clinton era to now.

Will someone put the word Mandate back into the Dictionary. Equally relevant, any legislation which tries to give more than the necessary credence to Insurance companies will fail to deliver according to expectations.

Law Makers need to determine how much and what involvement should Insurance companies have in the development of the ultimate document. If Insurance companies are given a major role in the crafting of the ultimate document, it will fail to deliver consistent with the real need of the people. Do not expect Insurance companies to assist in the legislation of equitable and in some cases free Health Insurance for the people.

Yes, in some cases based on a means test or affordability scale some of my fellow Americans will require free Health Insurance and Care. And why not. If you can go abroad and provide free Health Care, then why not do it for our citizens. Charity begins at Home.

No Insurance company is about to craft legislation that will take money out of their pockets willingly. That is just not good business practice. However, this matter is not about the business of Health Insurance. It is about the people and their need for affordable Health Insurance devoid of complicated verbiage. Insurance companies will not lose money. Sure, they may lose money on the Health Insurance line item but they will make it up on another line. Do not believe that the Health Insurance companies only sell Health Insurance. The current White House Administration should know that very well.

Now is the time to repeal the current fiasco known as “Affordable Health Care”. Timing is everything. The Republican Party and the newly elected Administration must seize the moment and act accordingly but with more forward thinking. Everyone is consumed with the cost to Government. I agree that is important but we are not there yet. The current stage is the draft. The current stage is the Pro Forma. No plan is complete without revision. There will be time enough for counting, when the deal is done.

Millions of Americans are, or soon to be without Health Care because they cannot afford Health Insurance. I realize that Legislators feel the need to provide input and be part of the Legislation and that is awesome but let’s get on with the provision.

Where will the money coming from? The money comes from a reduction of each current line item on the budget reduced by what you think provision of Health Insurance will cost. Any detail discussion of this premise is unnecessary in this article. The best Financial person in the Administration should be able to take what I just wrote and convert it into a revised Balance Sheet.

Health Care Debacle Bottom

Health Care Debacle

 

 

Health Care Debacle Bottom

Are we there yet? It will be a tragedy if Law Makers cannot focus long enough to Repeal and Replace the current fiasco known as “Affordable Health Care”. Any legislation with the word Mandate will fail to deliver according to expectations. There seems to be a fixation on the word mandate to the extent that it continues to be a part of Legislation from the Clinton era to now. Will someone put the word back into the Dictionary. Equally relevant, any legislation which tries to give more than the necessary credence to Insurance companies will fail to deliver according to expectations.

Law Makers need to determine how much and what involvement should Insurance companies have in the development of the ultimate document. If Insurance companies are given a major role in the crafting of the ultimate document, it will fail to deliver consistent with the real need of the people. Do not expect Insurance companies to assist in the legislation of equitable and in some cases free Health Insurance for the people. Yes, in some cases based on a means test or affordability scale some of my fellow Americans will require free Health Insurance and Care. And why not. If you can go abroad and provide free Health Care, then why not do it for our citizens. Charity begins at Home.

No Insurance company is about to craft legislation that will take money out of their pockets willingly. That is just not good business practice. However, this matter is not about the business of Health Insurance. It is about the people and their need for affordable Health Insurance devoid of complicated verbiage. Insurance companies will not lose money. Sure, they may lose money on the Health Insurance line item but they will make it up on another line. Do not believe that the Health Insurance companies only sell Health Insurance. The current White House Administration should know that very well.

Now is the time to repeal the current fiasco known as “Affordable Health Care”. Timing is everything. The Republican Party and the newly elected Administration must seize the moment and act accordingly but with more forward thinking. Everyone seems to be consumed with the cost to Government. I agree that is important but we are not there yet. The current stage is the draft. The current stage is the Pro Forma. No plan is complete without revision. There will be time enough for counting, when the deal is done.

Millions of Americans are, or soon to be without Health Care because they cannot afford Health Insurance. I realize that Legislators feel the need to provide input and be part of the Legislation and that is awesome but let’s get on with the provision.

The question was and still is, how do we provide Health Insurance for millions of Americans who are uninsured and in some cases underinsured. The time is right for the Republican Administration to Repeal “Affordable Health Care “as is constituted and develop a constructive provision. Keep it simple, probably 20 pages.

Somewhere along the way Journalism and Law Schools determined that numerous pages of verbiage is the way to address and explain resolution to important issues. Fortunately, the opposite is true and has withstood the test of time. In essence, Keep It Simple.

Draining the swamp is still in order for Republicans and Democrats alike. The Administration needs to be cautious not to go down the path of the Republican establishment. The Administration needs to develop a path consistent with Conservative Republicans. The current Pro Forma needs work and revision. Yes, it would be terrific to gain the support of House Leadership but their Agenda is not that of Conservative Republicans on this issue. Their agenda has been to the market place and Conservative Republicans are not interested. The Administration needs to work on revision of Repeal and Replace so that it meets the expectations of Conservative Republicans. Current proposal is a mouth with missing teeth. Pardon the analogy.

We have a Health Insurance issue because most Americans have coverage which is connected to their employment. Some of the uninsured are no longer employed and Cobra is too expensive. Others are employed but their Health Insurance is too expensive and simply cannot afford it. A true provision must address how Self-employed or individuals will be able to acquire Health Care at an affordable price.

It is not Health Care that needs reform. It is the cost, access, and availability of Health Insurance that needs reform. Choosing Health Care is analogous to deciding which car to buy.  However, one must first have money or access to make that decision. In this case money or access inclusive of applicable discounts is Health Insurance.

Health Care, is the availability of Medical Goods and Services including buildings and equipment whose sole purpose is to preserve, maintain, prolong health, and ultimately life. Health Insurance is the free or affordable access to Health care.

Each time affordable access to Health care is discussed, cynics and the dis-ingenuous raise the subject of Entitlements. Leave entitlements alone. Such discussion only muddies the water, clutter the table, or create distraction.  Leave entitlements alone. People either paid for or earned their entitlements. Therefore, that subject is irrelevant. The bottom line is you can provide assistance regarding Health Care for your citizens or you cannot. If you cannot, then we should shut up.

Citizens are not the same as residents and certainly not the same as Illegal immigrants. You can be a resident and not a citizen. If you are an illegal immigrant, you do not qualify as a resident and definitely not a citizen. Seems to me that definition should be disclosed and made clear in the provision of “Affordable Health Care”. Perhaps, this why the Legislation or agreements thereon is taking this long. In one sentence, I just eliminated two groups of people. That should definitely reduce the projected cost. Census says there are 300 million people in country but not all are citizens.

Let’s get on with the “Affordable Health Care” provision. Quit talking and stalling. There is nothing to it but to do it. Are we there yet?

Health Care Debacle Top

The Way Forward (Black America)

entrepreneurship-blacks

Years ago, I became a Registered Republican. Many in the Black community uttered dirty remarks. It is refreshing to see that some Black celebrities now realize the “Way Forward”. This is the change that should be embraced by the Black community. For too long the leadership held to the Civil Rights platform apparently not recognizing that Era is over. It is time to move forward and stop complaining, fighting, and marching.

To effect change and bring about your ideals you must be in the room. You must sit at the table. You must articulate the issues and needs. You must have a Road Map and be ready and able to implement plans and solutions.

The Democratic Party is not your conduit or path to solutions. The situations and conditions that ail the Neighborhood will not leave via the assistance of the Democratic Party. The only thing leaving the Hood from the assistance of the Democratic Party, are the “so called” Senators and Representatives. In fact, the Democratic Party added insult to injury with the installation of the previous Executive Branch of Government. The previous Administration was ineffective. What was accomplished was not meaningful and what would have been meaningful was not accomplished.

For too long the Black community placed their eggs in the basket of the Democratic Party. They waited decades for the chickens to hatch. Finally, there is an epiphany. Those who thought the ideology of the Democratic Party would bring forth progress and salvation have realized they were WRONG. In the past eight years, there was a Democratic Party administration in the White House and the Black Community received nothing. Chicago and other inner city neighborhoods are rapidly approaching war zone status. The President in office was  presumably from Chicago yet the community looks the same. In fact, I would argue that Chicago looks worse than it did in 2008.

Setting expectations, the Black Community should not count their chickens before they are hatched in interaction with the current Administration but anything is better than nothing. However, my bet is the Black community will get attention and assistance to begin moving forward.

The Democratic Party is all about Hand-outs, keeping you poor and in pursuit but never attaining. The Republican Party is about ideas and Puritan Work Ethic. Look around you, everything you see was once an idea.

If the current leaders of the “Way Forward” are looking for prominent Republican Party members to contribute, they should invite Alan Keyes and Colin Powell. There is work to be done and enough glory to go around. Here are keys to the success of the “Way Forward”:

  • Empower and encourage young Black people to become Entrepreneurs
  • Train them to be computer literate
  • Encourage them to focus on developing Industries missing from our infrastructure
  • Encourage them to “Think” and improve on existing Industries
  • Encourage them to look at Manufacturing and Farming and not relegate themselves to Services
  • Encourage them to utilize and promote their own talents and not be copycats
  • Instill in them that not everyone is Academically inclined. There are roads, buildings, bridges, and other important segments of our infrastructure that need attention.
  • Encourage them to research George Washington Carver, Uncle Ben, and persons of that Ilk so that they can aspire to creativity and ingenuity

The NAACP and Urban League is in need of an attitude and focus adjustment. The Way Forward is not about complaining, fighting, and marching. The “Way Forward” is not about Jobs, corporate sit-ins, or Internship. Jobs are initial but short-term solutions. Entrepreneurship is long-term solution and the “Way Forward”. If you need something done, be willing and able to do it yourself with the necessary business support.

You must be in the room where ideas are discussed and decisions made. You must sit at the table. You must articulate the needs and issues. You must have a Road Map and be ready and able to implement plans and solutions. I am excited. Are you?

entrepreneurship-lead