Rick Denzien - Blog

Why Be a Light?

2011-04-26T16:48:00.001-07:00

Hey Just checking in. Actually the way the world is has nothing to do with how it can or will be in the future. In other words, just because the world was messed up in the past or present does not mean that this will continue in the future.
For example, the past two thousand years was marked by centuries of mass violence which lead to the deaths of millions / billions of people. Looking at this world from a human history point of view clearly is a horror.
Toward the end of the last century however, there were three non-violent revolutions. Gandhi’s India became free by means of a non violent movement. In the 60's Martian Luther King lead a non-violent movement to reach greater legal & human equality in the civil rights movement. And Nelson Mandela led a 20 year non-violent revolution which ended apatite in South Africa. Though these men were not perfect, and though there where those who attached the non-violent nature of their causes, never the less the overall effect was non-violent and lead to an evolution of the human race.
Phil Collins did make a difference in millions of fans lives, and to that extent he pushed the good forward. When enough people join together toward the same positive goals, reality as we know it changes. The great truth of quantum mechanics is that the future is ours to create. And though there are those who for their own greed and fear try to keep the rest of us down and oppressed, it is a fact that the good and higher best for all will win out.
Best,
Rick

The 111th Congress - Acomplishments

2010-11-24T15:28:00.000-08:00

The 111th Congress has made historic progress, working with President Obama to take America in a New Direction. We are working to turn our economy around and create good jobs; to make common sense reforms to how Wall Street does business; to make quality health insurance affordable for every American; and to launch a clean energy jobs revolution that makes America more secure. These efforts are being tackled with fiscal discipline and accountability.

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND CREATING JOBS
AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT, enacted in the first month of President Obama’s term, to jumpstart our economy, create and save 3.5 million jobs, give 95% of American workers a tax cut, and begin to rebuild America’s road, rail, and water infrastructure, with unprecedented accountability. (Signed into Law)

HIRE ACT, providing tax incentives for businesses that have already hired 4.5 million unemployed Americans, unleashingbillions of dollars to rebuild highways and infrastructure, strengthening small businesses with tax credits and accelerated write-offs, and cracking down on offshore accounts for the wealthy. (Signed into Law)

CASH FOR CLUNKERS, jump-starting the U.S. auto industry, providing consumers with up to $4,500 to trade in an old vehicle for one with higher fuel efficiency – spurring the sale of 700,000 vehicles. (Signed into Law)

WORKER, HOMEOWNERSHIP & BUSINESS ASSISTANCE ACT, stimulating growth and creating jobs with up to 20 additional weeks of unemployment benefits to the million Americans hit hardest by the recession, an extended and expanded first-time homebuyer tax credit, and enhanced tax relief for struggling small businesses—now broadened to struggling medium and large U.S. businesses. (Signed into Law)

U.S. MANUFACTURING ENHANCEMENT ACT, to help U.S. manufacturers compete at home and abroad by temporarily suspending or reducing duties on intermediate products or materials these companies use that are not made domestically. (On the President’s Desk)

STUDENT AID AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY ACT, to make the largest investment in college aid in history – increasing Pell Grants and keeping federal student loan interest rates low – and to strengthen early learning for children from birth through age five, while reducing the federal deficit. (Passed by House)

UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS EXTENSION, extending unemployment benefits to millions of American families through November 30, 2010; every dollar of unemployment benefits creates at least $1.61 in economic activity. (Signed into Law)

AMERICAN JOBS & CLOSING TAX LOOPHOLES ACT, to prevent corporations from shipping jobs overseas at U.S. taxpayer expense, make Wall Street billionaires pay their fair share of taxes, and promote American jobs by restoring credit to small businesses, extending tax incentives for American R&D and tax relief for middle class American families, rebuilding American infrastructure, and expanding summer jobs for young people.(Passed by House)

SMALL BUSINESS JOBS & CREDIT ACT, to leverage billions in loans for small businesses through a lending fund for community banks and provide tax incentives to spur investment in small businesses and the formation of new small businesses; fully paid for. (Passed by House)

HOME STAR JOBS, to provide incentives for consumers to make their homes energy-efficient -- creating 168,000 jobs, cutting energy bills for 3 million families, and reducing our dangerous dependence on foreign oil and dirty fuels. (Passed by House)

AMERICA COMPETES REAUTHORIZATION, to invest in modernizing manufacturing; basic R&D; high risk/high reward clean energy research; and teaching science, technology, engineering and math. (Passed by House)

HELPING FAMILIES SAVE THEIR HOMES ACT, building on the President’s initiative to stem the foreclosure crisis, with significant incentives to lenders, servicers, and homeowners to modify loans. (Signed into Law)

EDWARD M. KENNEDY SERVE AMERICA ACT, tripling volunteerism opportunities to 250,000 for national service for students to retirees; increased college financial awards. (Signed into Law)

JOB CREATION THROUGH ENTREPRENEURSHIP ACT, to give established small businesses and entrepreneurial start-ups the needed tools and resources to thrive, create jobs and drive economic growth. (Passed by House)

SMALL BUSINESS FINANCING & INVESTMENT ACT, to reform federal small business lending to help save or create 1.3 million jobs annually--making it easier and more affordable to get loans and access capital, and providing tools for veterans, women, and rural families. (Passed by House)

PERMANENT ESTATE TAX RELIEF FOR FAMILIES, FARMERS AND SMALL BUSINESSES at the 2009 level to ensure that 99.8 percent of estates in America never pay a dime of taxes, and to offer certainty and stability for farmers and small businesses. (Passed by House)

TAX EXTENDERS ACT, to extend the R&D tax credit for American companies that invest in innovative jobs; extend deductions for millions of parents, teachers, and families for college tuition, classroom expenses, property and state and local sales taxes; and help ensure National Guard and Reservists called up to active duty do not face a pay cut. (Passed by House)

INNOVATION AGENDA, investing $31 billion in science, technology, innovation, math education, cutting-edge research, advanced manufacturing technologies, and workforce training. (Signed into Law)

LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS, providing targeted increases for health, education and worker training, including NIH research, Pell Grants, Head Start and clean energy jobs. (Signed into Law)

WATER QUALITY INVESTMENT ACT, to create an estimated 680,000 jobs over the next five years by launching clean water projects for families and communities across America. (Passed by House)

FHA REFORM, to shore up federal mortgage insurance in order to expand homeownership opportunities by making essential reforms to strengthen the financial footing of the Federal Housing Administration, saving taxpayers $2.5 billion over 5 years. (Passed by House)

AFFORDABLE QUALITY HEALTH CARE
HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM, landmark legislation to lower costs to consumers, preserve and provide choice of doctors and health plans including a public option, ensure peace of mind that coverage can’t be delayed or denied, and expand access to affordable health coverage for millions of Americans. (Passed by House)

HEALTH CARE FOR 11 MILLION CHILDREN, to finally provide cost-effective health coverage for 4 million more children and preserve coverage for 7 million children already enrolled. (Signed into Law)

FDA REGULATION OF TOBACCO, granting the Food and Drug Administration authority to regulate advertising, marketing, and manufacturing of tobacco products, the #1 cause of preventable U.S. death. (Signed into Law)

MEDICARE PHYSICIAN PAYMENT REFORM, to protect Medicare beneficiaries’ access to physicians by permanently replacing the broken Medicare physician payment system and to repeal the scheduled 21 percent fee reduction; supported by the AMA and AARP. (Passed by House)

FOOD SAFETY, to fundamentally change the way we protect our food supply; close gaps exposed by recent food-borne illness outbreaks; give the FDA new authorities. (Passed by House)

RYAN WHITE HIV/AIDS TREATMENT EXTENSION ACT, guaranteeing access to lifesaving medical services, primary care, and medications for low-income patients with AIDs and HIV. (Signed into Law)

CLEAN ENERGY JOBS & CONSERVATION
AMERICAN CLEAN ENERGY AND SECURITY ACT, to create millions of jobs that can’t be outsourced; reduce our dangerous dependence on foreign oil; reduce the carbon pollution causing climate change; keep costs low for Americans, with lower income Americans seeing no cost; with no increase in the deficit. (Passed by House)

OMNIBUS PUBLIC LAND MANAGEMENT ACT, the most significant conservation bill in 15 years, strengthening tourism and rural economies with more than 2 million new acres of wilderness and parks. (Signed into Law)

SPILL ACT, to reform maritime liability laws to ensure that the families of those killed or injured in the BP Oil Spill and other such tragedies are justly compensated for their losses. (Passed by House)

BP OIL SPILL COMMISSION SUBPOENA POWER, to give subpoena power to National Commission on BP Oil Spill to ensure that it cannot be stonewalled by BP or others in its search for spill’s causes. (Passed by House)

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
BUDGET BLUEPRINT, reflecting the President’s plan to get the economy moving again, cutting taxes for most Americans by $1.5 trillion and creating jobs with targeted investments in health care, clean energy and education – cutting the Bush deficit more than half by 2013. (Passed by House and Senate; Action Completed)

STATUTORY PAY-AS-YOU-GO, to restore 1990s law that turned record deficits into surpluses, by forcing tough choices; Congress must offset new policies that reduce revenues or expand entitlements. (Passed by House)

IMPROPER PAYMENTS ELIMINATION, to help identify and eliminate improper federal payments, as well as recover lost funds that federal agencies have spent improperly. (Signed into Law)

WEAPONS SYSTEMS ACQUISITION REFORM, cracking down on Pentagon waste and cost overruns in the acquisition of weapon systems, increasing oversight and competition. (Signed into Law)

DISCLOSE ACT, to fight a corporate takeover of our elections, requires them to disclose they are behind political ads; bans foreign-controlled corporations from putting money in U.S. elections. (Passed by House)

GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY, EFFECTIVENESS AND PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT ACT, to require the federal government to adopt the same type of performance-based budgeting standards that are being used successfully in many state governments to rein in wasteful spending. (Passed by House)

PROTECTING CONSUMERS AND TAXPAYERS
WALL STREET REFORM AND CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT, the most comprehensive financial reforms since the Great Depression to help restore common sense rules of the road for Wall Street and prevent future crises from ever happening again; to end taxpayer-funded bailouts and ‘too big to fail’ financial institutions, protect consumers from predatory lending and our retirement and college savings from unnecessary risks through a new Consumer Financial Protection Agency, inject transparency and new accountability into a financial system run amok, and give shareholders a say on executive compensation. (Passed by House)

CREDIT CARDHOLDERS’ BILL OF RIGHTS, providing tough new protections for consumers—including banning unfair rate increases, abusive fees, and penalties—and strengthening enforcement. (Signed into Law) To speed up effective date with card companies raising rates before reforms take effect. (Passed by House)

FRAUD ENFORCEMENT & RECOVERY ACT, providing tools to prosecute mortgage scams and corporate fraud that contributed to financial crisis; creating an outside commission to examine its causes. (Signed into Law)

DEFENSE PROCUREMENT REFORM, cracking down on Pentagon waste and cost overruns, which GAO says total $296 billion just for 96 largest weapons systems, increasing oversight and competition. (Signed into Law)

STRENGTHENING OVERSIGHT OF TARP, expanding authority of the TARP Special Inspector General, to help ensure taxpayers’ funds are effectively used to get credit flowing to businesses and families. (Signed into Law)

LILLY LEDBETTER FAIR PAY ACT, restoring the rights of women and other workers to challenge unfair pay—to help close the wage gap where women earn 78 cents for every $1 a man earns in America. (Signed into Law)

MORTGAGE REFORM & ANTI-PREDATORY LENDING ACT, to stop predatory and irresponsible mortgage loan practices that played a major role in the current financial meltdown and to help ensure that the mortgage industry follows basic principles of sound lending and consumer protection. (Passed by House)

PAY FOR PERFORMANCE ACT, to prohibit unreasonable or excessive compensation and non-performance-based bonuses for executives at companies receiving TARP funds. (Passed by House)

FINANCIAL SERVICES APPROPRIATIONS, investing in key efforts to crack down on excessive financial risk-taking by Wall Street, rebuild protections for homeowners, investors and consumers by federal agencies, and strengthen America’s small businesses. (Signed into Law)

AIRLINE PASSENGER CONSUMER PROTECTIONS & SAFETY, to require contingency plans for long tarmac and flight delays, improve safety, and modernize air traffic control systems and infrastructure. (Passed by House)

NATIONAL SECURITY/TROOPS AND VETERANS
FY 2009 SUPPLEMENTAL, for rest of FY 2009, providing our troops with everything they need to wind down the Iraq war, change strategy in Afghanistan; requiring a progress report; and making retroactive payments to 185,000+ service members whose enlistments were involuntarily extended since 9/11. (Signed into Law)

TRANSFER OF NEW GI BILL BENEFITS TO CHILDREN OF FALLEN TROOPS, expanding New GI Bill benefits to cover the full cost of a college education for all children of fallen U.S. service members. (Signed into Law)

DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION, authorizing a 3.4% pay raise for our troops, strengthening military readiness, expanding support for military families such as health care and housing, focusing on our strategy in Afghanistan and Pakistan and redeployment from Iraq, and military procurement reform. (Signed into Law)

VETERANS HEALTH CARE BUDGET REFORM & TRANSPARENCY ACT, a top priority of veterans’ groups, authorizing Congress to approve VA medical care appropriations one year in advance to ensure reliable and timely funding and prevent politics from ever delaying VA health care funding. (Signed into Law)

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION-VETERANS ADMINISTRATION APPROPRIATIONS, strengthening quality health care for more than 5 million veterans by investing 11% more than 2009 for medical care, benefits claims processors, and facility improvements. (Signed into Law)

SERVICE MEMBERS HOME OWNERSHIP TAX ACT, extending the homebuyer tax credit for troops overseas for a year and making payments to military personnel moving due to base closures tax exempt. (Signed into Law)

REPEAL OF DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL, to provide for the repeal of this outdated policy, contingent on the certification that military review completed and that repeal would not impact readiness. (Passed by House)

CAREGIVERS AND VETERANS OMNIBUS HEALTH SERVICES, landmark legislation providing help to caregivers of disabled, ill or injured veterans, and improving VA health services for women veterans. (Signed into Law)

SECURITY FOR AMERICA’S COMMUNITIES
HATE CRIMES PREVENTION ACT, giving law enforcement resources to prevent and prosecute hate crimes against Americans based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. (Signed into Law)

PUTTING 50,000 COPS ON THE BEAT, to authorize $1.8 billion a year for COPS grants over the next five years, to put an additional 50,000 police officers on the street. (Passed by House)

ENHANCING TRANSPORTATION SECURITY, to improve security for over 10 billion American mass transit trips each year – tripling resources for transit security. (Passed by House)

BORDER SECURITY EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS, providing net emergency spending of $500 million, requested by the President, to enhance security at the Southwest Border, including by funding 1,200 additional Border Patrol agents and 500 additional Customs and Border Protection officers. (Passed by House)

HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS, strengthening security at our ports and borders and on commercial airlines, giving first responders tools to respond to terrorism. (Signed into Law)

CHEMICAL & WATER SECURITY ACT, to increase security and safety of the nation’s chemical plants and water facilities vulnerable to terrorist attacks and the millions of Americans that live nearby. (Passed by House)
Thanks to:
http://www.brady.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=153§iontree=5,153

Amazing

2010-10-29T11:48:00.000-07:00

It always amazes me - to see you and me - us poor and middle class people - buying in to the great lie.

It is a lie that big business and free enterprise will solve all our problems if only they are left without any government regulation. The facts? Big business only cares about one thing: the $$ profit that can be made this quarter. Most big businesses do not care for the poor or the middle class, this is a fantasy. The rich & powerful love to twist the truth in their favor.

Nixon (R) opened the doors for free trade to China. The gold rush was switched on. At the time, there was the promise of new jobs here in America because geez – look at all those un-taped 6 billion Chinese ready to buy American products. Well no one thought for a moment to realize that most people in China were very poor peasants, living under a dominating murdering killing machine – namely the Chinese government. Look where that has gotten the USA. Our manufacturing base has moved to China, leaving the US with very few MFG jobs – jobs that used to be held by a proud and strong middle class – gone over seas to the Maoists. Not only are our workers un employed, but the Chinese workers labor in deplorable sweat shop conditions. Slavery is alive and well. Our balance of trade is way out of wack and our national debt continues to climb. China lies about how much fish it takes from our world’s dying oceans with impunity and is still the chief human rights oppressor in the world (Tibet). Yet we middle class send them all our money via China Mart stores - great idea. Is “Free Enterprise” really free?

In the name of "Free" enterprise and deregulation Regan (R) killed the unions. Collective bargaining for the good of the union members is the only reason for the creation of the American middle class in the first place. We still live rich off gains made by the unions, from the 1930’s through the 1970’s, the poor and middle class enjoy a very enhanced life style, though it has eroded badly since the 70’s. It is time the middle class woke up to the reality that large corporate interests such as, big oil, big MFG over seas, Big nsurance industry and big fast food are not going to give a fair shake to the little guy.

It is up to us, the people, to make our government watch out for "we the people" and not for the interests of the power hungry rich. Consumers have the right to safe products; workers have the right to produce products in a safe environment. We all have the right to live in a world that is in balance, non-polluted, with a green economy that is sustainable.

Leaving the power elate rich alone making super bucks will only send the poor and middle class to economic hell. This is not the better way. First let’s all get a clue. Next let’s not be tricked by the rich; of course they don't want any regulation.

They would rather see you get your hands chopped off because a safety feature on a machine or product would cost money which costs them profit.

Of course the insurance industry does not want universal health care, they would make a little less profit.

Of course the chemical industry promotes the “Human Element”, instead of the 50,000 people they killed via Union Carbide in Bhopal India. Pay for all that death? Why make it right. It is cheaper to make up some slick bull shit averts for TV, convince us that they are really good human folks like us.

Of course the fast food industry does not want you to know that you're eating rotten bacteria infested meat. So what if a few hundred children die from ecoli, the industry profits. Less government - fewer government meat inspectors makes it easy to avoid doing the right thing. Once again, big business gets its way at our expense.

Big business will never be able to solve our problems because Big Business creates more problems in the process of doing business than it solves.

That is not to say I’m against business. Only the kind that does not have balance, which as it happens, is most business. There are many excellent exceptions where the business enters into a partnership with the workers; the business prospers by not polluting, attempts sincerely and successfully to have a zero impact on the environment. Replaces what it takes. Balance, sustainability true profitability taking all costs into account.

Most of us believe in God; the forgiveness of sins etc. The Rabi Jesus taught "whatever you to the least of these my brothers, you do to me". The "Golden Rule" is a value that most of us believe in, yet when it comes to corporate responsibility, somehow we give them a big fat pass.

If you believe in God, and this is a value that you believe in, you must also get your head around these facts. Vote for democratic people who support us and you the person.

Chairman Mao

2010-09-26T20:08:00.000-07:00

What the the ghost of Chairman Mao say to the billionaire Chinese Industrialist?
"I think these Americans are stupid, they want more jobs at home, but they continue to import and buy from China Store". - rick
www.YouTube.com/RckDenzien

Main Line Media News

2010-06-27T05:15:00.000-07:00

Main Line Media News

10 THINGS EVERY AMERICAN SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HEALTH CARE REFORM

2010-03-23T13:36:00.001-07:00

10 THINGS EVERY AMERICAN SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HEALTH CARE REFORM
Category: Life

......10 THINGS EVERY AMERICAN SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HEALTH CARE REFORM

1. Once reform is fully implemented, over 95% of Americans will have
health insurance coverage, including 32 million who are currently
uninsured.2

2. Health insurance companies will no longer be allowed to deny people
coverage because of preexisting conditions--or to drop coverage when
people become sick.3

3. Just like members of Congress, individuals and small businesses who
can't afford to purchase insurance on their own will be able to pool
together and choose from a variety of competing plans with lower
premiums.4

4. Reform will cut the federal budget deficit by $138 billion over the
next five years, and a whopping $1.2 trillion in the following ten years.5

5. Health care will be more affordable for families and small businesses
thanks to new tax credits, subsidies, and other assistance--paid for
largely by taxing insurance companies, drug companies, and the very
wealthiest Americans.6

6. Seniors on Medicare will pay less for their prescription drugs because
the legislation closes the "donut hole" gap in existing coverage.7

7. By reducing health care costs for employers, reform will create or save
more than 2.5 million jobs over the next decade.8

8. Medicaid will be expanded to offer health insurance coverage to an
additional 16 million low-income people.9

9. Instead of losing coverage after they leave home or graduate from
college, young adults will be able to remain on their families' insurance
plans until age 26.10

10. Community health centers would receive an additional $11 billion,
doubling the number of patients who can be treated regardless of their
insurance or ability to pay.
Sources:

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10. "Affordable Health Care for America: Summary," House Energy and Commerce Committee, March 18, 2010
http://wwwd.house.gov/akamaidocs/energycommerce/SUMMARY.pdf

3. "Insurance Companies Prosper, Families Suffer: Our Broken Health Insurance System," U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Accessed March 22, 2010
http://healthreform.gov/reports/insuranceprospers/index.html

4. "Affordable Health Care for America: Health Insurance Reform at a Glance: Revenue Provisions," House Energy and Commerce Committee, March 18, 2010
http://wwwd.house.gov/akamaidocs/energycommerce/REVENUE.pdf

5. "New Jobs Through Better Health Care," Center for American Progress, January 8, 2010
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2010/01/new_jobs_health.html

8, 9. "Proposed Changes in the Final Health Care Bill," The New York Times, March 22, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/03/19/us/politics/20100319-health-care-reconciliation.html

10. "Affordable Health Care for America: Health Insurance Reform at a Glance: Addressing Health and Health Care Disparities," House Energy and Commerce Committee, March 20, 2010
http://docs.house.gov/energycommerce/DISPARITIES.pdf

My Health Care Experience

2009-12-15T10:34:00.000-08:00

Once in this country, I spent less than 17 hours in the hosptial and the bill came to over $65,000. And they didn't even send me home with a jar of Vaseline®.

Near the end of one of my music tours in The Netherlands, I became ill. Fever, dizzy, throat was on fire. So sick that I slept right up till a performance on a music festival and then went right back to sleep again.

My friends finally woke me and said, "Dude you don't look so good, were taking you to the doctor". My protests did no good; they thought better for a poor musician from the states without any insurance coverage and what he had to say about his own sickness. Instead they took me to a non emergency hospital to seek treatment. My friend Tilly said, "don't worry this is on us".

A short ride to the hospital filled out a one page form and right in to see a doctor. I kept telling him that I had no money - he didn't listen to that, he just took care of me. He wrote a prescription for me that cost $3.00 - and sent me to my guest home. On the way out we paid for the prescription and I asked how much did the doctor cost because I wanted to pay them back. They said - It is already paid. We have national health care. "But I'm a ....USA.... citizen; I don't have any health care". They explained that because I was creating commerce, business by singing and performing that I was part of The Netherlands economy and I was covered. "You are a legitimate worker with a work visa after all. You're paying taxes on everything you buy, and so are your fans", she said.

Now I’m not suggesting that we cover non ....USA.... citizens with health care. But, the moral of the story is, not only do the Dutch take very good care of their own people, they take an actual Christian attitude towards a total stranger! The parable of the Good Samaritan comes to mind.

What a stark contrast to how we treat our on citizens. P.S. No need to worry about the Dutch Insurance Industry - It is alive, well and profitable. The Dutch maintain one of the highest standards of living anywhere in the world.

In my opinion, those haters - so called "Tea Party" who call themselves "Christians" are really more like the Romans who tossed the real Christians to the lions!!

Holding insurance companies accountable is the correct thing to do. Making sure that no one can be denied or dropped from their insurance is the correct thing to do.

How can we have "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness" if we are always worried about if we even have or the cost of having healthcare? Total coverage is a basic right of USA citizenship.