Plain & Simple

In the Penalty Box

2012-05-05T17:51:42Z

In almost every instance I can think of, a penalty is leveled for an infraction of the rules: Holding in football will cost you 10 yards. Hitting out of bounds in golf will cost you an extra stroke. Going 45 mph in a 30 mph zone is met with a pricey ticket. But there is one place that puts Americans in the penalty box for doing the right thing--It's called "income tax."

Everyone that works a legitimate job in this country gets penalized by the government. Think about it, how often do drug dealers pay income taxes? Every year, billions of dollars of personal income go untaxed--because the source of the income is illegal.

Legitimate businesses suffer as well. To legally conduct business within the US one must fill out paper work with the IRS. How much money do you think the drug cartels pay to conduct their business within the US boarders?

The recent exposure of illegal immigrants claiming dependents who live in Mexico and receiving thousands in tax refunds is one more example of fraud that would be eliminated by a sales tax or the Fair Tax.

Plain & Simple: It's time to stop penalizing those who work honest jobs and tax everyone! Everyone in this country is a consumer, while a decreasing number of folks are paying income taxes.

News from the Left

2011-11-30T13:05:01Z

More allegations for the Presidential hopeful Herman Cain.

The most recent charge is from a woman who says she had an affair with Mr. Cain for 13 years. Mr Cain denies the allegation. OK, good enough for me.

What I find most surprising is the gullibility of Republicans. You pay no attention to the left-wing media when they push the global warming agenda but take on faith their charge of his infidelity--without an understanding of motive. I'm sure the woman who makes the allegation is fully trustworthy. She claims to have lived (and concealed) a lie for 13 years with no regard for the feelings of Mr. Cain's wife. However, now she comes forward because of the feelings of the other accusers--who's allegations are being dismissed. Obviously, she is a caring, Christian woman.

Let me tell you the real motive: Survival!

Mr. Cain is "public enemy number one" to the Democratic party. He is the only Republican candidate that can look at the African-American population and say: "In three generations, my family went from share-croppers, to manual laborers, to rocket scientist/Presidential candidate. Not because of the policies of the Left, but in spite of those policies. Are we all on track for such achievements?"

Plain and Simple: Mr. Cain is living proof that the African-American community does not "need" Democratic party policies to succeed. In fact, they have held back the community for generations. I don't understand why the Right refuses to listen to the Left media on virtually all issues, except when they are dividing Republicans while "helping" vet a candidate.

Department of Redundancy Dept.

2011-08-12T14:26:42Z

When I was earning my degree in English composition, I had a professor who taught me the skill of identifying and eliminating repetitious expressions, or what some might call...redundancies.

We see and hear them with such regularity, they've become easy to overlook. Within the last week I've heard the following:

(armed) gunman
(free) gift
(advance) warning
(foreign) imports
(filled) to capacity
(face) mask

There are hundreds of these redundancies that are wasteful and add little benefit to what has been said.

The Federal Government is a wonderful source of needless repetition as well. For example,

(U.S.) Indiana Department of Education
(U.S.) Indiana Department of Labor
(U.S.) Indiana Department of Health
(IRS) Indiana Department of Revenue
(Federal Bureau) Indiana Department of Corrections

We have allowed these costly redundancies to exist for so long, we fail to see the absurdity of such repetition.

Plain & Simple: When you start looking to cut Federal budgets, start with the hundreds of billions of dollars the Federal Government takes annually for services already provided by the states. The savings would add (up) quickly.

The Elephant in the Room

2011-07-28T12:00:28Z

The male African elephant stands about 10-13 feet tall and weighs around 4.5 tonnes. No matter how hard you tried, it would be difficult to ignore one if it were standing near you. Unless, you are involved in the American media.

One week ago today, 840 tonnes of crystal meth making precursors were seized in Mexico. That's enough tonnage to make 350 million doses of meth with a street value around $28 billion--or a herd of 187 elephants. The story originated by Reuters, was picked up world wide...but only a handful of American media outlets ran the story.

I suppose they figured it was of little interest to the American people--which is odd since virtually all of this meth would have stampeded over the southern boarder into the United States.

It appears the American media is unwilling to keep us informed about the issues that truly impact the people. It may be political bias or a fear of back-lash from the truth. But good journalism is not safe, it's investigative and informative.

Plain & Simple: Without the facts, we can't make informed decision about important issues--in this case boarder security and drug enforcement. To ignore one elephant is difficult at best. To ignore an entire heard, while it poises itself to stamped America, is unforgivable. What else are you not telling us? In my business, such practices would be considered malpractice.

Stop & Go

2011-07-17T15:44:55Z

What would you do if you were driving your car and came to a traffic light that was blinking both red and green?

You'd most likely wonder if you're supposed to stop or go. Fundamentally, you can't do both at the same time. It's a rather perplexing situation and one I ran into this last weekend at our own Indianapolis Zoo.

As we walked into the dolphin building we were greeted by a sticker on the sliding glass door that boasted the zoo is using 100% green energy. Inside, the dolphin trainers asked everyone to take the "carbon pledge" and protect the wild dolphins from carbon emissions.

After the show, we exited the building and happened upon a kiosk filled with lots of souvenirs--almost all of which were made in...you guessed it: China.

So while the zoo is all "green" on the surface, they are selling trinkets from the most polluting country on the face of the earth.

Plain & Simple: Don't get me wrong. I love our zoo. But fundamentally, they can't sell it as "green" and sell so much that is red.

Based on Your Ability to Play

2011-06-09T12:45:51Z

A few years ago, I was working in the ER and had a patient brought in by ambulance for an ankle injury sustained while practicing for a big 3-on-3 basketball tournament.

X-rays showed he had not broken his ankle but the exam revealed he had a very significant sprain. I really admired this guys tenacity as he pushed me to say he could still play in the tournament. He figured some tape and a compression bandage and he would be good to go. I told him that if he could play without putting weight on that ankle, and on crutches, it might be ok--otherwise my answer was "No."

I wanted him to follow up with the orthopedics group the next day so I asked if he might need a work excuse to make the follow up appointment. To my astonishment he looked at me with a very matter-of-fact expression and said, "Oh, no, I'm on disability."

It took a minute for me to process that concept. He could play basketball but not work?

To name but a few-- I've also taken care of others on disability who have hurt their back while moving a house full of furniture, cut their hands while doing a brake job on their car, a guy who twisted his ankle when he fell putting on a new roof, and one who fell off a trampoline while playing with the kids. One of my personal favorites was an 18 year old patient who came in for "back pain" and made it clear she "Just can't function" and was applying for disability. I could find nothing wrong except for her obesity and smoking habit.

Plain & Simple: My experiences are shared by every ER provider I've ever talked to about this situation. Disability is truly one of the most abused social medical programs. Somehow, granting people disability has an amazing curative property allowing them to function normally again. This is not to say some people don't need disability. But the overwhelming majority of those who draw it, don't deserve such a benefit. It's time to restructure disability and weed out the abusers.

Time for a New Car

2011-05-22T02:08:03Z

Most people agree when the cost of maintaining your old car is more than a new car payment, it's time to retire the old car.

I argue the same is true of governmental policies as well.

With Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security fraud reaching roughly 40% (give or take a few percent depending on sources), it would seem an obvious solution to redesign these programs. Further, since Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security and Homeland Security account for about 60% of our national budget, such a move would save U.S. taxpayers about 3.36 trillion dollars a year.

What would the new system look like you ask?

Well, just a few examples might include:

--smokers would not be given government paid medical benefits--new cars don't even come with cigarette lighters or ashtrays anymore.
--Social Security disability would be extended to only those who really can't work.
--people who are receiving unemployment will be required to work for the government to "earn" their unemployment benefits...During the great depression, people swept streets to get their check. Such work should be required today. And don't forget the mandatory, random drug testing.

Plain & Simple: It's time to retire the plush old Cadillac government programs folks have been cruising in and replace them with programs more in line with a "smarter" more economical vehicle. These programs may be here to stay, but it's time to redesign the programs so they don't cost so much to maintain.

Rule Number 9

2011-03-31T13:00:00Z

George Carlin used to say: "Dishonesty is the second best policy."

Of course he was only kidding. But it appears that some might have misinterpreted his sarcasm.

Indiana legislators voted 73-23 in favor of House Bill 1210 which includes a provision requiring women seeking abortions be told that the "procedure carries a risk of breast cancer."

According to local reports Rep. Eric Turner of Cicero "...hopes with this legislation, women will be able to make a more informed decision about their pregnancy..."

Possibly, but it would be a misinformed decision.

The US National Cancer Institute (NCI) has concluded that there is no link between abortion and breast cancer. But why let medical facts get in the way of political agendas?

The truly nefarious part of the law is it "requires" medical providers to provide information that is not medically sound in order to attain a certain political result--a practice that (in any other circumstance) would constitute a breech of medical ethics.

Fortunately, some in the House did propose an amendment to strike the breast cancer provision, and require information given to women seeking abortions be "medically and scientifically accurate." But the ideas were rejected wholesale by majority House vote.

Plain & Simple: I believe that many who voted in favor of House Bill 1210 are well-meaning good Christian people. But I must remind you of Rule Number 9: Thou Shall Not Lie. More importantly, you have not right to compel medical professionals to breech their ethics to advance your political views. Finally, to those who voted in favor of the bill...Do you really support misinforming the public?

Life or Meth

2011-02-18T13:09:00Z

Despite the fact that pseudoephedrine now requires a signature at the pharmacy, Indiana has seen an increase in the number of 'meth labs" throughout the state. Legislators are now attempting to halt the production of methamphetamine by making the compound a Category II controlled substance--which would require a prescription to attain the drug.

Those who oppose the law in Indiana must admit Oregon (the first state to enact such a measure) saw a 70% drop in meth-lab busts after passing such a law. Likewise, those who support the measure must admit the street availability of methamphetamine in Oregon has not changed.

As local "mom and pop" production decreased, the "big box" suppliers have stepped up to the plate. Using decades old cocaine cartel distribution routes, Mexican super-labs are producing and exporting methamphetamine at an astounding rate.

Over the last decade, Mexican imports of pseudoephedrine have gone from 66 tons a year to over 224 tons. Crystal-Meth (the super pure, and highly lethal product produced in Mexico) is so potent, a users first dose can be their last and it accounts for approximately 50% of the drug found around the United States. The toll is devastating--not only on people, but on pocket books.

Is requiring a prescription the answer? Well, despite the explosion in methamphetamine abuse, more Hoosiers still abuse prescription drugs than methamphetamine--but not for long if the trend continues. Methamphetamine is so addictive that 92% of those that try it one time, will never get clean--a fact producers are counting on. It accounts for more emergency room visits than all other drugs combined.

Plain & Simple: If we do not seal the border, further restrictions on the use of pseudoephedrine will not affect the supply of methamphetamine on U.S. streets. We failed to seal the border decades ago when Mexican cocaine was rampant in the United States. Once again, we see an epidemic in our country that is fueled by Mexican cartels. We hear of the plight of the poor Mexican migrant worker and the hardships they face if we seal the border. But I ask, when can we start to consider the toll these cartels have on our friends and children? How about the hardships we face as a nation "in and out" of rehab. This is about our nation leading a productive life or ~~meth~~ death.

This isn't a Game

2011-01-18T13:19:00Z

Imagine you're out walking the dog down the boardwalk and you notice "suspicious" behavior at a little green house down Pennsylvania Avenue.

As a concerned member of the neighborhood, you call the authorities who respond and expose a large methamphetamine lab. As the neighbors gather at the scene they are baffled when the police leave the house and explain they can do nothing because drug enforcement is the responsibility of the U.S. Government--not state and local officials.

Sounds rather absurd right?

Well once again I open the paper to see there is confusion regarding the roll of the state in "distinctly federal" responsibilities. In this case it pertains to immigration (not drug) enforcement.

Despite the fact no reasonable individual would rescind local authority to enforce illegal drug activity, some vilify states for attempting to identify and enforce illegal immigration activity. It would be unreasonable to call the Feds every time police find a joint in someone's pocket. In reality, the DEA is in place in an attempt to limit drug trafficking between states, and across U.S. borders. When they fail to stop such activity, it becomes the responsibility of local authorities. This should also true for illegal immigration.

Plain & Simple: People are tired of the "get out of jail free" mentality. Now legislators are responding with a "go directly to jail, do not pass go, do not collect $200" mentality. Our Federal Government does not have a monopoly on enforcement of laws pertaining to illegal drug activity--nor should we expect them to handle illegal immigration on their own. Enforcement efforts must be collaborative between state and the federal authorities.