Not all women are like that!

I was listening to morning drive time radio the other day and the female part of the duo was talking about her numerous coach purses.

I like her personality, she's usually amusing; but it started me thinking.

If you listen to programs like this and ads on TV and radio, you'd think American women are pushy, know-it-alls, and extremely materialistic.

Just listen to the ads.

And how many women really want numerous designer label purses? Really?

I happen to regard a purse as a necessary tool. It holds stuff that doesn't fit in your pocket.

You get a new one when the old one wears out or gets too dirty to clean.

If I could swing it, I wouldn't have a purse at all.

And lots of women I've talked to feel that way.

So if you like purses, great. If you don't, don't let TV and radio pressure you into thinking you do.

Before you vote, read...

You've probably noticed by the number of political ads that an election is drawing near -- November 2.  In many places, early voting will also be available.

But before you leave for voting, be sure to check out the candidates and their records.  

There is a great deal of negative ads out there -- if you see or hear one sponsored by a third party with a nice sounding name, be suspicious!  Special interest is pouring money into the campaign to get candidates elected that will do what they want, which might be not in your best interest. (This is worse than usual due to the recent Supreme Court ruling)

So where do you go to get accurate information?  

The League of women voters lists forums and events:     http://lwvnc.org/ 

A great voter guide is available from UNC TV  http://www.unctv.org/election/candidates/Wake/index.html

Some overlooked but important posts are county commissioners and judges.  There is also something new this year, a ranking type / instant runoff race for in the NC Court of Appeals.  

So good luck, and please do your research...

Or if you'd rather not, subscribe to the blog for Tracy's picks in the next post.

Thanks for reading,

Tracy

Judging Too Soon Can Be Misleading

Too often things are latched onto by the media before all the facts are in.


This week, articles blasted health reform -- claiming hourly workers at MacDonalds would loose their mini-med plans due to the fact that the carrier claimed to not be able to make the 80-85% medical loss ratio (or conversely, they spend more than 15-20% on administrative costs, (including executive bonuses).


"Horrors!  It's due to that health reform bill, we knew it would have bad effects." said the ever-present critics.


Step back a moment. 
Maybe the hourly workers aren't getting a very good plan. 

In fact, the next day, that was the judgement.  The workers weren't getting much for the hard earned money they were paying -- in good faith that their employer was offering something worthwhile.
In fact, they were paying over $700 dollars a year for coverage that maxed out at $2000.

So health reform isn't to blame, and in this case is a good thing -- and plans like these should be investigated.  They are either inefficient, or someone's making too much money. 

If they had car company reform back ten years ago, maybe the car industry wouldn't have been in such a mess.  And if any oversight had been applied to the investment community, maybe the banking system wouldn't have been near collapse. 

In a perfect world, we wouldn't need government oversight.  But you see, it isn't a perfect world.

all the best,

Tracy

Links to articles on mini-meds:

To read more:
http://money.cnn.com/2010/10/05/news/companies/mini_meds_insurance_mcdonalds.fortune/

Article on the GOP and lobbying against regulations:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-health-politics-money-20101005,0,4869233.story

Just say no to negative political ads!

Haven't you had enough of these ads with no substance, only negative appeals to emotion?

For example, in NC, Richard Burr has been airing ones with people talking about wasteful spending and the problems we are in. They forget that Burr, as the incumbent, bears responsibility - he voted for the bank bailout and a little cooperation would have made the stimulus and the health care bill more effective.


Why doesn't he have an ad listing his accomplishments in the Senate?
(fill in your guess here)

Just say no to negative ads! Write your candidate that you'd like to hear facts, and if they don't listen, don't vote for them!!!