Wednesday, April 2, 2014

B IS FOR BACK IN THE USSR

My theme for A to Z this year is a wildly different, but very exciting, HERE'S TO YOU all month long. 26 posts to be precise. The most difficult part was narrowing down the 26. All of you deserve your own post. What you will find here is a post by the featured blogger, with traveling music chosen by me that complements said post, and two links. One will link back to the original post and the other to the main page. This year's A to Z is all about making new friends!  


BACK IN THE USSR is written by Larry or LC, who also writes DiscConnected, a blog that addresses all things music. BACK IN THE USSR is a politically incorrect forum (my favorite kind), in which various policies of the government are examined under the microscope. As LC says in his header: "On this blog, I'm going to leave the CD's on the shelf and vent my frustrations with the current state of political affairs. Our country has problems. Our tax burden is worse than our founding fathers fought a revolution over. Our Federal government has grown into a monstrosity that would make Paul Revere start riding again. We're back...in the United States' Socialist Republic!"




And your traveling music:



SEBELIUS UNDER FIRE by DiscConnected
11/6/13

 In an exchange with Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas., Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius stated Wednesday that it was possible convicted felons could be hired as ObamaCare ‘navigators,’ giving them access to personal information like Social Security numbers and addresses of anyone signing up for the program.


Sebelius made the admission during a Senate Finance Committee hearing, the second time in a week she was on Capitol Hill, forced to defend the problem-plagued ObamaCare website.
“Isn’t it true that there is no federal requirement for navigators to undergo a criminal background check,” Cornyn asked her.

“That is true,” Sebelius answered. “States could add in additional background checks and other features, but it is not part of the federal requirement.”
Cornyn pressed, “So a convicted felon could be a navigator and could acquire sensitive personal information from an individual unbeknownst to them?”

Sebelius answered, “This is possible.”





The last time Sebelius testified before a House committee, she fell on the sword, personally apologizing for the failures.
“Hold me accountable for the debacle,” she said. “I’m responsible.”

Lawmakers from both parties have harshly criticized the health insurance exchange website rollout and her agency’s lack of foresight about the massive problems.
 

Kansas Republican Senator Pat Roberts called for her resignation. He spoke at length during the hearing, expressing his disappointment at the lack of information provided to Congress throughout the website’s development – including some warnings of problems ahead by government investigators.

“In short, Madam Secretary, I believe you were given advice, counsel and warning from experts inside your agency and out that the health care exchanges were not going to be ready. Furthermore, I believe to protect the administration, you chose to ignore these warnings, and as a result, you have put our entire health care system and one-sixth of our economy in jeopardy.”

“You have said America should hold you for — accountable, which is why today, Madam Secretary, I repeat my request for you to resign,” he said.



The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced the abrupt retirement of the chief information officer, in the first high-level departure since the botched HealthCare.gov launch last month.

In my opinion, the computer glitches should not be the focus.

In the past, I’d have said the focus should be the constitutionality of the bill, but quite frankly, today’s admission concerns me.




The idea that my employer is required by the federal government to perform background checks on all employees who handle personal health information (we subcontract with Medicare health plans), but the federal government does not impose the same requirement on their own employees is one I find very alarming.
With identity theft as rampant as it is, we're not going to screen who we allow to access our citizen's personal information?
Doesn't that seem a little short-sighted?
Can't this administration do anything right the first time?
 
"Liberty is lost through complacency and a subservient mindset. When we accept or even welcome automobile checkpoints, random searches, mandatory identification cards, and paramilitary police in our streets, we have lost a vital part of our American heritage. America was born of protest, revolution, and mistrust of government. Subservient societies neither maintain nor deserve freedom for long.” ~Ron Paul

 If you are interested in another viewpoint on what is happening in this country, I encourage you to visit BACK IN THE USSR. 

37 comments:

  1. That is a scary thing, Larry.
    Excellent choice for B, Robin! Larry also knows his music inside and out.
    And it should be noted - he's also a Cavanaugh.
    We rock!

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  2. I love that song. And awesome passion from that blogger.

    Brandon Ax: Writer's Storm

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  3. Exactly, exactly. The amount of our info available is frightening and so unconstitutional.

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  4. WHOA Robin...

    This is SCARY and very DISCONCERTING.... Sometimes I just want to pack and move to another country... But then, they have their problems too. But NOTHING LIKE THIS!

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  5. And this is why I'm glad I live in Canada. Oh wait! We have our political nightmares too. :P

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  6. Hmm, that is not surprising. No less alarming than you stated, but not surprising.

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  7. I want to be a Proud American....YIKES...it seems impossible...

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  8. Wow, Robin, you got my attention. I'm not American, so it's okay for me to say I had no idea. But wow, this is scary.

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  9. Why do countries slack off protecting our information at the national level? It happens in Canada as well as the US.

    Government jobs used to have background checks, but modernity loosens guidelines. Now with greater vulnerability, they hire 'whoever' and turn them loose. That was an interesting 'revived' post.

    Love the Police, and Sting singing that song. But, it's creepy if you think of him as a stalker. . .

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  10. Alex ~ Glad you picked up on the important aspect of this piece...he's a Cavanaugh... hahahahaha.

    Brandon ~ I wish we all were more passionate about the direction this country is going.

    Susan ~ Yes! Yes! Yes!

    Michael ~ If you want more bad news, read Larry's blog. This is just ONE thing in a haystack of things.

    Stina ~ I don't know much about Canadian government, but I trust you on the problems...

    Rosey ~ When we just accept these things as Par For The Course... I suppose that means we are really in trouble, no?

    Cathrina ~ I fear that ship has sailed.

    Joylene ~ The thing is that things are bad all over. People talk about moving... but where to go?

    D.G. ~ I chose the song BECAUSE it is creepy. Hahahaha. Glad you noticed.

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  11. Seems like an interesting guy. The comment on "identity theft" being rampant got me a bit upset -- I think people VASTLY overstate how much risk there is for things like identity theft, especially considering that the amount of personal information available in health care records is far less than the amount of personal information available to Facebook or Amazon or Google-- but that, I suppose, is not a debate for your blog so much as for his.

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  12. I have now officially lived in Norway as long as I lived in the states. I have always been proud to call myself American but ever since the days of Bush that feeling has been fading. Do love the song Back in the USSR.

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  13. Yes! Finally some common sense! I will check out his blog for sure.

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  14. excellent music choice for our countries condition today. Frightening and infuriating at the same time. This administration is not only incompetent but scary.
    Stellar post!

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  15. I am humbled to be your "B" post...you have gotten the Cavanaugh's out of the way in the first two days!

    I like the song choice...on the surface a love song, but with obsessive undertones.

    Kind of like a lot of things our fearless leaders in DC do...on the surface they seem humane and benign, yet there is always that undercurrent of tyranny...or at least a condescending attitude that us "wee folk" cannot think for ourselves.

    Thanks Robin!

    LC (the other blogger name Cavanaugh)

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  16. I agree - the constitutionality of Obamacare should be the focus. Not computer glitches! There's a dangerous undercurrent of tyranny that the American people really need to be aware of!

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  17. Yep, just one of many excellent posts a person will find at LC's 'BACK IN THE USSR' blog. From the time Larry started it, that blog has remained one of my very favorite political sites and I have always read it and commented on it regularly. And when he reopens it after his April Blogcation, I shall again become a regular visitor of it.

    ~ D-FensDogg
    'Loyal American Underground'

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  18. I love that this year is all about making new friends - especially because we met last year through A-Z! So impressive you're doing it again. LOVE Every Breath You Take by the Police.

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  19. Politics, such an evil, evil game - and the victims - us!

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  20. I'm sure the gov't should be held to the same background checks as the rest. I'm also sure it would cost a lot and taxes would rise. Plus, I guess there'd be ACLU people protesting "privacy invasion," and far right-wingers protesting any new taxes. Nothing's easy. (I love "Every Breath You Take!")

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    Replies
    1. Maybe they can offset the deficit by not paying for things like penis pumps....

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  21. Briane P ~ Since both my mother and I have been victims of Identity Theft I could argue that one right here.

    Siv ~ Federal government is just too darn big.

    Jay ~ You won't be disappointed!

    Kathe ~ The government at federal and state levels are horrifying. Heck, even local politics would likely curl your hair.

    LC ~ Ah, you always knew you were one of my faves!

    Sherry ~ Yes!

    StMc ~ Now we just have to prod him into reopening for business!

    Kimberly ~ I know! I wish you blogged more girl!

    Yolanda ~ Right on the money. They play the game and we lose.

    Lexa ~ Would it cost a lot more to make sure that criminals didn't have access to our information? Hmmm.

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  22. my oh my - how controversial of you! it's too bad we have so many crooks in the government who weasel things into law with so much added baggage that they don't even read the fine print! We definitely need to simplify!

    happy b-lated bday and happy b day, too!
    i heard you won POP TRAVEL on Sherry's blog! fantastic!!

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  23. Oh, ouch! And I can't even send an email with confidential medical information on it...

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  24. I guess I wasn't even aware of Larry or his blog. I will have to take a good long look as it sounds like my kind of blog. Another fascinating post, Robin.

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  25. It's interesting that the Police weren't happy with that song having been seen as a sweet, romantic love song. Their point was more about stalking behavior - which is exactly how you're using it. Nice work.

    xoRobyn

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  26. I can only think of one blog that I follow that I would consider political. I'll check Larry out.

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  27. This is like Larry's unknown blog. Actually both of Larry's blogs deserve more visitors than they get. He's a heck of a nice guy too.

    Lee
    Wrote By Rote
    An A to Z Co-host blog

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  28. Hi human, Robin,

    I must check out that blog. It's very good of you to bring much awareness. I would state before I go that the British government should be on trial for murder of the most vulnerable in British society. How about that.

    Penny, the pawsitive host of the Alphabark Challenge, 2014!

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  29. Great guest post. Yeah things are crazy - it's really sad. :(

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  30. I love the music you chose for the post it is one of my favorite songs.

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  31. Tara ~ Unfortunately, I don't see the Federal Govt getting smaller. There is just SO MUCH that they do that people would really dislike... if they knew about it. And, yes, I did win POP TRAVEL... I am so excited!!!

    Liza ~ Exactly. The problem is that most people don't even know this is happening...

    Manzi ~ It IS your kind of blog.

    Robyn ~ Oh yeah, the song was definitely about stalking. But, then there were quite a few 80s tunes that were stalkerish. Take Blondie's One Way Or Another as another example.

    Tim ~ It's a very good read. I hope you do.

    Arlee ~ Larry's blog doesn't get near the traffic it should. I agree!

    klahanie ~ I hear ya.

    Kimberly ~ I know :(

    Glenda ~ :)

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  32. Great post! I have read the blog at Back in the USSR and love the song. Was just talking with a friend- remember in the days after 9/11 everyone showed their Patriotism towards the country? I have always been patriotic now it is stereotyped as being a gun loving redneck or tea bagger. : / I want to go back to the America I remember growing up in!

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  33. I am very familiar with this story, but not the blog. Another aware person is always a good thing, even if I am left feeling like nobody really cares- or at least not enough somebodies to make a difference.
    I read a story about a white man accidentally hitting a black boy in Detroit with his car. He was beaten in the street by 10-12 black men and is in the hospital in a coma now, just for getting out of his car to check on the child. I would post about it, to help spread the word on real racism, but I don't want my blog to be inundated with people who yell racist at me.
    My point is: that today it is very dangerous to point out the truth about anything in society, government, etc. I wish it wasn't so and those who are still willing to expose the truth are brave indeed.

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  34. GG ~ Wish I had a time machine for you....

    Jasmine ~ People really don't want to accept the truth. The harder the truth, the more they will deny it. This goes for all things, but is particularly true of government. We don't anything that challenges an ingrained belief system (even if it doesn't shape up to reality).

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  35. You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but Obama is still only a community organizer.

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