It is often said that astronomers, other natural scientists, and some other enthusiasts on Earth are seeking intelligent life in the Universe. Hell, I would be happy if we found some intelligent life right here on Earth.
I mean, come on people, look around you and do so objectively. How many people do you know actually have any real level of “smartness” sufficiently enough to be labeled as intelligent? Now, take another look around you, and tell me how many people you know that you have at sometime thought to yourself “Wow, he (or she) is really dumb (or stupid)!” Come on; be honest.
In everyday contacts with people and in observing others, I bet most people who read Roland Hansen Commentary think the majority of folks are dumb. Chances are good that there is not a majority of people who can be called intelligent. Chances are that most people around us do not keep current on the affairs of their community, let alone the affairs of the nation. Chances are that most Americans do not even know the basics of our governmental system. Chances are that the bulk of Americans have absolutely no understanding neither of the authorities, responsibilities, or of the limitations of the various branches and levels of government, nor of our elected officials.
And yet, these are the very same people who elect our leaders, our representatives, and all the other various elected officials. These are the same people who constantly slam and criticize our government and cry about those who have been put into office through the electoral process. My, gosh! Stop and think. The elected officials who comprise our government are a reflection of the American electorate. To those people who are so critical of our government, of our elected officials, I say, look in a mirror. What do you see? It certainly does not reflect any intelligence on your part. I say, if you are intelligent, you would realize that all our elected officials are smarter than the majority of people; otherwise, you tell me how the elected official got there in the first place.
Oh, I cannot believe the lack of intelligence that permeates the American citizenry! The other day, I saw a campaign sign for a candidate to the state legislature with a few key phrases on it that left me scratching my head. A little elaboration of that perplexing and confounding political sign: One phrase stated “better schools” and yet we elect boards of education for that important function; another phrase stated “lower taxes” but did not say what public services should be eliminated as a result of decreased public revenues; and another phrase on that sign proclaimed “create new jobs” and yet that candidate was of the political party that professes the government should stay out of the affairs of private business enterprises advocating that capitalism of the marketplace regulate itself and should set its own pace.
Give me a break! How stupid! And yet, the public falls for such irrationalism. People lack the intelligence to properly read (or listen) and interpret the real message. People lack the ability to think for themselves. People also lack the initiative to obtain the facts for themselves. All they do is react. That is why negative advertising in campaigns works so well. The receivers of the negative campaign ad do not stop to process the information; they just knee jerk, saying “yeah, that’s right” and then vote for the other candidate without ever taking the time to gather objective information in order to intelligently assess that “other” candidate.
I dare say, none of those people even read Roland Hansen Commentary or any other material that requires their attention and mental processing. Most people are just too damn lazy; they prefer to complain and criticize and moan and groan and attack the few people who do have intelligence and initiative and a sense of real, true public service.
I am seeking intelligent life. Who wants to help me in my quest?
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Religion and Politics
Religion and politics do not mix, just like oil and vinegar do not mix. Or at least religion and politics should not mix, regardless of all the so-called "good Americans" who think their personally held religious beliefs should control our everyday lives here in the United States of America. However, people do mix religion and politics, in the same way as they mix oil and vinegar, as described in part of the article to which I linked in the opening sentence, "There is a way to make oil and vinegar combine. For example, if you were to get grease on your hands..."
As I wrote over on my Roland's Ramblings blog:
Political conservatives and many persons who have embraced the Tea Party movement seem to have forgotten that very basic principal of the United States of America as they try to force their religious beliefs on others who do not share the same religious beliefs, things like prayer in school, returning CHRIST in xMas, declarations that the USA is a Christian nation, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera (as Yul Brynner said in The King and I).
It is my passionately held opinion that religion and politics do not mix and that religion and politics should be separate. "And now you know… the rest of the story." as told by me. This is (with all due respect to Paul Harvey) Roland Hansen ............. Good Day!
As I wrote over on my Roland's Ramblings blog:
Out of respect for the First Amendment, I cannot help but have the opinion that candidates for elective office, especially those persons who seek election to the United States Congress, and/or those who already hold elective office, should keep religion out of politics.It seems to me that some people think that their religion is the correct one and that everyone else should conform to their religious beliefs. Gee, if memory serves me correctly, I learned at a very early age in elementary school history class that the early colonists came to the New World in order to escape religious persecution and oppression and to safely observe their own religious beliefs.
I found an article in Wikipedia to be very interesting and I highly suggest you click on over to read:
Religion and politics in the United States
Political conservatives and many persons who have embraced the Tea Party movement seem to have forgotten that very basic principal of the United States of America as they try to force their religious beliefs on others who do not share the same religious beliefs, things like prayer in school, returning CHRIST in xMas, declarations that the USA is a Christian nation, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera (as Yul Brynner said in The King and I).
It is my passionately held opinion that religion and politics do not mix and that religion and politics should be separate. "And now you know… the rest of the story." as told by me. This is (with all due respect to Paul Harvey) Roland Hansen ............. Good Day!
Saturday, September 11, 2010
The Cost of a Colonoscopy
Okay, many people I know keep saying that a person of a certain age should get a colonoscopy at regular intervals just as a preventive medicine health care measure. I understand the necessity for a person at risk, i.e. for someone in which a health problem is medically suspected; but to have a colonoscopy on a regular, just because basis, I don't know. Especially when I see what the costs are for a colonoscopy.
Recently, my wife, Judy, was in need of a colonoscopy due to medical necessity in that the primary care physician suspected some problems after a physical examination and the return of some medical tests. I will not even go into the costs of these preliminary exams and tests.
However, I feel compelled to tell you about the costs of the colonoscopy including the associated costs of the removal of the five polyps that were discovered and removed during the process of the colonoscopy itself. All total, there have been five different medical providers involved. i.e. the surgeon, the facility, the anesthesiologist, the laboratory, and the pathologist.
Are you ready?
$3517.83 or $1363.10, depending upon how you look at it.
If a person has no medical insurance, the medical providers would make that person pay $3517.83 out of his or her own pocket.
But, if a person has the same medical insurance as I do, the medical providers would accept $1363.10 as payment in full. In our situation, my insurance company paid $729.90 and we paid $633.20 out of our own pocket. The medical providers actually wrote off $2154.73 of their charges because - - - well, basically because the insurance company said the medical providers were overcharging by that much.
This is a summary of that of which I just wrote:
Amount billed: $3517.83
Amount allowed: $1363.10
Insurance paid: $729.90
We paid: $633.20
Written off: $2154.73
If you want to know the details of all that, like how each of those line items are broken down by medical providers, go over to read my comments on Judy Hansen Commentary Medical Cost Ripoff and see the precise amount for each of the medical providers --- and I name names.
A person without health insurance would have to pay $3517.83 for a colonoscopy and removal of polyps. But, as you can see in the case of Judy, those same medical providers are willing to accept $1363.10 as payment in full for persons who have insurance such as mine. That means the person without insurance is charged $2154.73 more than a person with my type of medical insurance. HECK, for the uninsured, that is almost three times as much as it is for the insured. That kind of gouging of the uninsured by the medical providers is a real pain in the ---, just like a hemorrhoid.
I will never ever understand the compassionless political Conservatives and Republicans who think it is all right for low and moderate income people without adequately sufficient health insurance to go without needed health care because of the expensive, overpriced American Health Care Industry.
I do not need to go on with my thoughts on that particular matter because, as my regular readers may recall, I have written a previous Roland Hansen Commentary about health care in the United States.
Recently, my wife, Judy, was in need of a colonoscopy due to medical necessity in that the primary care physician suspected some problems after a physical examination and the return of some medical tests. I will not even go into the costs of these preliminary exams and tests.
However, I feel compelled to tell you about the costs of the colonoscopy including the associated costs of the removal of the five polyps that were discovered and removed during the process of the colonoscopy itself. All total, there have been five different medical providers involved. i.e. the surgeon, the facility, the anesthesiologist, the laboratory, and the pathologist.
Are you ready?
$3517.83 or $1363.10, depending upon how you look at it.
If a person has no medical insurance, the medical providers would make that person pay $3517.83 out of his or her own pocket.
But, if a person has the same medical insurance as I do, the medical providers would accept $1363.10 as payment in full. In our situation, my insurance company paid $729.90 and we paid $633.20 out of our own pocket. The medical providers actually wrote off $2154.73 of their charges because - - - well, basically because the insurance company said the medical providers were overcharging by that much.
This is a summary of that of which I just wrote:
Amount billed: $3517.83
Amount allowed: $1363.10
Insurance paid: $729.90
We paid: $633.20
Written off: $2154.73
If you want to know the details of all that, like how each of those line items are broken down by medical providers, go over to read my comments on Judy Hansen Commentary Medical Cost Ripoff and see the precise amount for each of the medical providers --- and I name names.
A person without health insurance would have to pay $3517.83 for a colonoscopy and removal of polyps. But, as you can see in the case of Judy, those same medical providers are willing to accept $1363.10 as payment in full for persons who have insurance such as mine. That means the person without insurance is charged $2154.73 more than a person with my type of medical insurance. HECK, for the uninsured, that is almost three times as much as it is for the insured. That kind of gouging of the uninsured by the medical providers is a real pain in the ---, just like a hemorrhoid.
I will never ever understand the compassionless political Conservatives and Republicans who think it is all right for low and moderate income people without adequately sufficient health insurance to go without needed health care because of the expensive, overpriced American Health Care Industry.
I do not need to go on with my thoughts on that particular matter because, as my regular readers may recall, I have written a previous Roland Hansen Commentary about health care in the United States.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Sarah Palin: Harmful to Women's Causes
Jill Miller Zimon is a woman I admire. Jill Miller Zimon is a real leader, a true thinker, an active advocate, and a genuine champion of women.
To me, Jill Miller Zimon is "She Who Could Be President" - SWCBP.
Or maybe,
I should proclaim Jill Miller Zimon: SWSBP - "She Who Should Be President."
Not so for Sarah Palin, "She Who Wishes To Be President" aka SWWTBP.
Read what Jill Miller Zimon has written about Sarah Palin in regards to advancing the social and political positions and causes of women. Just click on over to:
Palin Continues To Damage Women While Others Spend Time, Money To Help Them
In my opinion, it just seems to me that Paling Palin is harmful to women's causes. Speaking of women's causes, I would like to suggest you check out the website of Women for Women International.
To me, Jill Miller Zimon is "She Who Could Be President" - SWCBP.
Or maybe,
I should proclaim Jill Miller Zimon: SWSBP - "She Who Should Be President."
Not so for Sarah Palin, "She Who Wishes To Be President" aka SWWTBP.
Read what Jill Miller Zimon has written about Sarah Palin in regards to advancing the social and political positions and causes of women. Just click on over to:
Palin Continues To Damage Women While Others Spend Time, Money To Help Them
In my opinion, it just seems to me that Paling Palin is harmful to women's causes. Speaking of women's causes, I would like to suggest you check out the website of Women for Women International.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Obituary: Dave Schulz; Toledo, Ohio; R.I.P.
Do you remember the Roland Hansen Commentary of June 5, 2010 concerning Dave Schulz of Toledo, Ohio?
If you do remember that entry about Dave Schulz, that is fine. If you do not remember that entry about Dave Schulz, that is fine, also.
Whether you remember or not, you can read it now by clicking onto this:
Dave Schulz: Toledo Politico Aspirant.
Well, it has now been almost 3 months since I wrote that piece concerning Dave Schulz. And still, no word from Dave Schulz, the 'wannabe' elected official in Toledo, Ohio. To me, the non-responsiveness of Dave Schulz from Toledo, Ohio to the request about which I wrote in the Roland Hansen Commentary Dave Schulz: Toledo Politico Aspirant is indicative of his lack of desire to have open, honest, transparent communications with the citizens of Toledo, Ohio. Either that, or he has 'passed away' from this world.
Whether Dave Schulz has 'passed away' from this world or just plain does not care is not relevant to me; Dave Schulz is now considered by me to have 'passed away' from my world in the political sense. This Roland Hansen Commentary, then, is my political obituary for Dave Schulz of Toledo.
Consequently, I have now withdrawn the request about which I wrote in the Roland Hansen Commentary Dave Schulz: Toledo Politico Aspirant.
Political Obituary
Dave Schulz
Toledo, Ohio
R.I.P.
If you do remember that entry about Dave Schulz, that is fine. If you do not remember that entry about Dave Schulz, that is fine, also.
Whether you remember or not, you can read it now by clicking onto this:
Dave Schulz: Toledo Politico Aspirant.
Well, it has now been almost 3 months since I wrote that piece concerning Dave Schulz. And still, no word from Dave Schulz, the 'wannabe' elected official in Toledo, Ohio. To me, the non-responsiveness of Dave Schulz from Toledo, Ohio to the request about which I wrote in the Roland Hansen Commentary Dave Schulz: Toledo Politico Aspirant is indicative of his lack of desire to have open, honest, transparent communications with the citizens of Toledo, Ohio. Either that, or he has 'passed away' from this world.
Whether Dave Schulz has 'passed away' from this world or just plain does not care is not relevant to me; Dave Schulz is now considered by me to have 'passed away' from my world in the political sense. This Roland Hansen Commentary, then, is my political obituary for Dave Schulz of Toledo.
Consequently, I have now withdrawn the request about which I wrote in the Roland Hansen Commentary Dave Schulz: Toledo Politico Aspirant.
Political Obituary
Dave Schulz
Toledo, Ohio
R.I.P.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Glenn Beck. God Save Us.
I ain't sayin' nuttin.
Someone else is; or rather, some one else is writing about Glenn Beck to the point of connecting the name of Glenn Beck to the descriptive noun of neo-Nazi.
Go read the Outrage blog entry God Save Us with its embedded link on Glenn Beck.
Now, I ask you: Do you have any comments to make?
Someone else is; or rather, some one else is writing about Glenn Beck to the point of connecting the name of Glenn Beck to the descriptive noun of neo-Nazi.
Go read the Outrage blog entry God Save Us with its embedded link on Glenn Beck.
Now, I ask you: Do you have any comments to make?
Friday, August 20, 2010
Ignorant People Believe President Barack Obama is a Muslim
You have read the title of this Roland Hansen Commentary correctly. As the title explicitly declares, "Ignorant People Believe President Barack Obama is a Muslim."
Regardless of the facts, people believe what they want to believe. Well, what are the facts about Barack Obama and his religious beliefs?
Snopes.com, the website that investigates rumors and then reports on whether the rumor is true or false, had addressed the rumor concerning Barack Obama being a Muslim more than two years ago. Move your computer mouse over and then click to read that report, "Who is Barack Obama?".
Despite all the facts to the contrary, despite factual information distributed by numerous sources on numerous occasions in numerous forms to educate the American public, despite all the repeated efforts to dispel the false belief that President Barack Obama is a Muslim, the number of people who actually believe that President Obama is a Muslim has increased.
For example, read some excerpts from the latest poll from The Pew Forum On Religion & Public Life:
Growing Number of Americans Say Obama is a Muslim.
I am telling you in very simple plain language,
Ignorant people believe President Barack Obama is a Muslim.
Let your computer mouse move on over and click to read:
Barack Hussein Obama: Once a Muslim, Always A Muslim by Debbie Schlussel, debbieschlussel.com;
(Reverend) Franklin Graham: Obama born a Muslim, a Christian Now by Sarah Pulliam Bailey, ChristianityToday Politics Blog;
President Obama: Muslim Missionary by Chuck Norris, Townhall.com; and finally,
31% of Republicans believe Barack Obama is Muslim from POLITICO.
And yet, the question still remains:
Is Barack Obama Muslim?
And once again, I proclaim:
Ignorant people believe President Barack Obama is a Muslim.
Regardless of the facts, people believe what they want to believe. Well, what are the facts about Barack Obama and his religious beliefs?
Snopes.com, the website that investigates rumors and then reports on whether the rumor is true or false, had addressed the rumor concerning Barack Obama being a Muslim more than two years ago. Move your computer mouse over and then click to read that report, "Who is Barack Obama?".
Despite all the facts to the contrary, despite factual information distributed by numerous sources on numerous occasions in numerous forms to educate the American public, despite all the repeated efforts to dispel the false belief that President Barack Obama is a Muslim, the number of people who actually believe that President Obama is a Muslim has increased.
For example, read some excerpts from the latest poll from The Pew Forum On Religion & Public Life:
A new national survey by the Pew Research Center finds that nearly one-in-five Americans (18%) now say Obama is a Muslim ...Click over to read the entire report:
Roughly a third of conservative Republicans (34%) say Obama is a Muslim, as do 30% of those who disapprove of Obama’s job performance. ...
The belief that Obama is a Muslim has increased most sharply among Republicans (up 14 points since 2009), especially conservative Republicans (up 16 points). But the number of independents who say Obama is a Muslim has also increased significantly (up eight points). ...
Growing Number of Americans Say Obama is a Muslim.
I am telling you in very simple plain language,
Ignorant people believe President Barack Obama is a Muslim.
Let your computer mouse move on over and click to read:
Barack Hussein Obama: Once a Muslim, Always A Muslim by Debbie Schlussel, debbieschlussel.com;
(Reverend) Franklin Graham: Obama born a Muslim, a Christian Now by Sarah Pulliam Bailey, ChristianityToday Politics Blog;
President Obama: Muslim Missionary by Chuck Norris, Townhall.com; and finally,
31% of Republicans believe Barack Obama is Muslim from POLITICO.
And yet, the question still remains:
Is Barack Obama Muslim?
And once again, I proclaim:
Ignorant people believe President Barack Obama is a Muslim.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Costco and Bahar BBQ Catering
It appears to me that Bahar BBQ Company has endorsed Costco chicken. What an endorsement of Costco and its famous Costco Rotisserie Chicken!
Bahar BBQ Catering proudly proclaims on its website that it "caters for corporate and social events, weddings and any other special and celebratory events in life."
Amongst other things, including its menu along with some very appetizing, mouth-watering, pretty pictures of prepared food items, he website also states:
Well, dear readers, to understand that premise, you need to read:
Costco Chicken from Judy's Jewels
and
Is Bahar BBQ Catering a Fraud? from Roland's Ramblings
Gee, I wonder how many other catering firms and individual Costco customers have made an endorsement of Costco chicken.
At the very least, it does seem as though Bahar BBQ Catering has partnered with Costco in its (Bahar BBQ) catering business venture.
Bahar BBQ Catering proudly proclaims on its website that it "caters for corporate and social events, weddings and any other special and celebratory events in life."
Amongst other things, including its menu along with some very appetizing, mouth-watering, pretty pictures of prepared food items, he website also states:
"Welcome to the home of great-tasting BBQ!Wonder of wonders, you say! I bet you wonder why I postulate that Bahar BBQ Catering has endorsed Costco and its famous Costco Chicken.
BBQ catering service in Toronto and surrounding area is our speciality and we are proud of serving fabulous food; we are an institution that’s been pleasing the discerning palates of our customers in Europe and North America for over 30 years.
We use only the freshest, top quality ingredients and slow cook all meats to lock in the delicious flavor that’s associated with our name...."
Well, dear readers, to understand that premise, you need to read:
Costco Chicken from Judy's Jewels
and
Is Bahar BBQ Catering a Fraud? from Roland's Ramblings
Gee, I wonder how many other catering firms and individual Costco customers have made an endorsement of Costco chicken.
At the very least, it does seem as though Bahar BBQ Catering has partnered with Costco in its (Bahar BBQ) catering business venture.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Car Deal Shams
I am so angered by the alleged car deals being foisted on the American public! Most of these so-called car deals are nothing but shams.
I really got peeved by the advertising campaign I first noticed a few months ago of the Yark Automotive Group in Toledo, Ohio when they claimed they would pay off the car a person used as a trade-in for a new car.
Bullfeathers! as Teddy Roosevelt would say.
Yark Automotive Group does not pay off the trade-in car. That is a bald-faced lie! Well, they do pay it off in a way, but they do so with money the customer borrowed from a new lender to give to Yark for the new car purchase. You see, the car dealer sets the customer up with a lending company who in turn rolls the balance of the trade-in car, i.e. the payoff, over into a loan the customer takes out for the new car. The balance of the old car loan is paid to the former lender by the car dealer who gets the money from the new lender who in turn adds that amount to the new car loan that the customer takes out - AND now you may even be paying more interest than you had been paying before on the previous loan.
I do not know how Yark Automotive Group and others just like them can get away with what I consider to be false or misleading advertising. Where are the consumer advocacy groups and government watchdogs on this one? Shame on all of them for letting the auto dealers bait and trick and financially gouge the American buying public. And shame on the auto dealers for being less than honest. Is it no wonder that the stereotype of the car salesperson is that of a sleaze-ball?
Then, there are the other shams in the auto sales industry. Take for example all these good offers that you can read about in the Yahoo online article Best Car Deals: August 2010.
Well, I consider them shams, even if you do not. Why? You may ask me that question or not. Makes no difference to me. I am going to tell you regardless of whether you ask.
Think of the phrase: "Show me the money." Now, stop and think a minute about cash on the barrelhead when purchasing a new automobile and these car deals in that article to which I linked. Where is the deal for the person who does not plan to finance the purchase of the car. It seems to me as though all those deals, in one way or another, are geared toward the customer who goes into debt. With the gimmicks used by the automobile sales industry and others, such as the real estate industry and credit card companies, is it no wonder that America is in such terrible financial difficulties?
Car dealers, I say to you:
Give me a real, true, honest to goodness deal. Better yet, just lower the damn inflated car prices to something that is realistic for the buying public and that will still provide a fair profit to the car sales industry. Oh, yeah, the same goes for trucks and motorcycles.
I really got peeved by the advertising campaign I first noticed a few months ago of the Yark Automotive Group in Toledo, Ohio when they claimed they would pay off the car a person used as a trade-in for a new car.
Bullfeathers! as Teddy Roosevelt would say.
Yark Automotive Group does not pay off the trade-in car. That is a bald-faced lie! Well, they do pay it off in a way, but they do so with money the customer borrowed from a new lender to give to Yark for the new car purchase. You see, the car dealer sets the customer up with a lending company who in turn rolls the balance of the trade-in car, i.e. the payoff, over into a loan the customer takes out for the new car. The balance of the old car loan is paid to the former lender by the car dealer who gets the money from the new lender who in turn adds that amount to the new car loan that the customer takes out - AND now you may even be paying more interest than you had been paying before on the previous loan.
I do not know how Yark Automotive Group and others just like them can get away with what I consider to be false or misleading advertising. Where are the consumer advocacy groups and government watchdogs on this one? Shame on all of them for letting the auto dealers bait and trick and financially gouge the American buying public. And shame on the auto dealers for being less than honest. Is it no wonder that the stereotype of the car salesperson is that of a sleaze-ball?
Then, there are the other shams in the auto sales industry. Take for example all these good offers that you can read about in the Yahoo online article Best Car Deals: August 2010.
Well, I consider them shams, even if you do not. Why? You may ask me that question or not. Makes no difference to me. I am going to tell you regardless of whether you ask.
Think of the phrase: "Show me the money." Now, stop and think a minute about cash on the barrelhead when purchasing a new automobile and these car deals in that article to which I linked. Where is the deal for the person who does not plan to finance the purchase of the car. It seems to me as though all those deals, in one way or another, are geared toward the customer who goes into debt. With the gimmicks used by the automobile sales industry and others, such as the real estate industry and credit card companies, is it no wonder that America is in such terrible financial difficulties?
Car dealers, I say to you:
Give me a real, true, honest to goodness deal. Better yet, just lower the damn inflated car prices to something that is realistic for the buying public and that will still provide a fair profit to the car sales industry. Oh, yeah, the same goes for trucks and motorcycles.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Universal Health Care in the United States Long Overdue
"Medical providers gouge non-insured people. Capitalistic swine that they are. ...
How dare, I SAY HOW DARE, the anti-universal heath care supporters advocate the denial of adequate health care for all Americans regardless of their economic abilities!!! I wonder if any of those tea-party type people have been in the position of needing necessary health care but were unable to get it because they either had no insurance or could not afford to pay for it themselves."
The above quotation is just part of a comment I made in response to an entry from Judy Hansen Commentary.
You may read Judy's entire entry and my complete response to it by going on over to:
Medical Cost Ripoff
Oh, by the way, if you did not previously read, or do not remember reading, a commentary I made a few years ago, I suggest you click on over now to read the Roland Hansen Commentary: Giuliani Illness Insurance Plan.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)