Mattress Tags

Today I learned why you should never tear off your mattress tag. Sure, it may be perfectly legal for you as the end consumer to tear off that tag, and it doesn't void the warranty. BUT... you do need that tag if you want to make a warranty claim! So, leave that tag on the mattress, so that if you have to make a warranty claim you know where the tag is. Got it?

Couldn't Have Said it Better Myself!

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/3/8/201129/3443/686/706147

30 Year Old Treaty for Equal Rights Still Not Ratified by the U.S.

In 1979 the UN adopted the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). The US has yet to sign this international treaty along with Iran, Nauru, Palau, Qatar, Sudan, Somalia, and Tonga. Are you kidding me?! In 30 years the United States has not seen fit to sign a treaty that ensures equal treatment for women?! Now I know that that's a lot of explanation points for one paragraph, but seriously folks, whats the deal?

In an article by the associated press, opponents are said to question the treaty:

From the right, U.S. opponents of CEDAW contend that ratification could lead to legalized prostitution, increased government interference in family matters, and abolition of remaining restrictions on abortion. They also question the value of joining a treaty that has been ratified by countries such as Saudi Arabia, where women cannot vote or drive.

Further, opponents advise that the US should not sign the treaty without adding it's own set of reservations, understandings, and declarations (RUDs) which is basically another term for adding language excluding the U.S. From adhering to certain parts of the treaty (such as a disclaimer that abortion is not a right etc). Well, guess what? The reason that Saudi Arabia has signed the treaty and women still cannot vote or drive is because they added their own RUDs to the treaty before signing it. So, we can sign the treaty as is and show Saudi Arabia and the rest of the world how it's done, or we can add some exceptions to the treaty, sign it, and be just like Saudi Arabia. By the way, CEDAW does not legalize prostitution, that statement along with a few others are only scare tactics used by opponents of the treaty.

I urge everyone to read up on this important treaty, and then write to your senators to tell them that you support the signing of CEDAW without RUDs. To get the contact information for your senator click here.

Need some help with your letter? Here's a sample letter:

Dear Senator xxxx,

I support Senator Boxer's efforts to get the CEDAW treaty ratified by the U.S., and I hope that you will also support her efforts. I believe that we need to set an example to the rest of the world and sign this treaty without any reservations, understanding, and declarations attached to it. Please support this important treaty which will help further the U.S. standard of equality for all.

Sincerely,
xxxx

Couldn't Have Said It Any Better

http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2009010314/stimulus-all

How You Can Help Fix Our Economy

Our economy is broken. “Yeah yeah, I know” you say… “we’re in a recession.” But that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about the broken economy that led to the recession, and all recessions. Recessions occur when spending declines. Basically, there isn’t enough demand to keep production at a high enough level to keep a decent number of people employed. Now, think about credit. Why do we have credit? So we can continue to spend even if we don’t really have the money. Credit is to keep our economy going.

But why do we need credit when our unemployment rates are low? Because our economy is broken, that’s why. Our system is set up so that the prices that consumers pay mostly goes to the top echelons of our society. Basically, our economy is set up so that the rich get richer. While the majority of people are paid a less-than-living wage, or live above their means through credit, the rich get richer, and the rest of us become slaves to credit, all to keep the system going to feed the money beasts at the top. “Yeah yeah, I’ve heard all this before” you say.

So, what can we as individuals do? Well, as an individual, not much. It’s individuals as a collective that can make a difference. We need to stop making up for poor wages through credit. I know that this will be hard, hard for a lot of people. But I think that if enough of us can live debt free, and those that can’t can at least trim the fat from their budgets that they can, we may have a shot at change. If we refuse to use credit, our system will have to change. Minimum wages will have to change to living wages, prices will have to come into line with actual value, and the money will have to be more evenly distributed in order to keep the new economy running.

Now, this may be asking a lot. But I think that we can do this if we really try. It’s the beginning of the year, and most people have made some sort of resolution, why not make a resolution to balance your budget? If you don’t know where to start, here are some tools for you.

If you don’t believe me on how broken our system is, pick up a copy of The Return Of Depression Economics And The Crisis Of 2008 by Paul Krugman

For some good advice on where to go from there in balancing your budget pick up Suze Orman's 2009 Action Plan by Suze Orman (if it’s before Thursday January 15th 2008 you can get it for free here: http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20081119_tows_bookdownload if it’s not, spend the 10 dollars! It’s worth it)

Use this tool on Suze Orman’s website to create a budget for yourself: http://www.suzeorman.com/2009actionplan/expensesheet/index.html

If you have credit cards, use this calculator to tell you how to get them paid down: http://cgi.money.cnn.com/tools/debtplanner/debtplanner.jsp

After you’ve done all that, I suggest you get something to help you keep to your new resolution. If you don’t already have a financial program, I suggest you get one such as Microsoft Money, or QuickBooks (I personally like MS Money). There are also free programs on the internet such as www.justthrive.com and www.mint.com. If you choose an online program be sure you check the security credentials of the site to make sure your information is secure. If you’re nervous about entering your information into these sites or programs, you can rest assured that as long as they have the proper credentials, your information is safe. I also suggest that you take advantage of your bank’s online banking if you don’t already do so. Keeping track of your money, and keeping an eye on your finances on a regular basis will help you to know where your money is going and keep it from straying from your new budget.

A Case For Universal Health Care

If ever a case were made for universal health care in the United States, the greedy health insurance companies and their overpaid executives have made the case well. This morning I awoke to a story on the news regarding a recent lawsuit settlement involving United Health Group and their practice of underpaying insurance claims. Then, I looked up a few other headlines associated with this company. Here are the headlines I found associated with United Health Group on the New York Times website only:

A Rip-Off by Health Insurers?

The Middleman's Markup

Insurer Says Economy Has Dented Its Prospects

UnitedHealth Settles Options Suit and Lowers Outlook

UnitedHealth Beats Wall St. Expectations

Ex-UnitedHealth Chief Settles Case

Big Health Insurer Agrees to Update Its Fee Data

Now, a little disclaimer… These aren’t all the articles on the page there were 10 articles on the first page, so it’s not like I had to try very hard to find the bad news regarding this company’s practices.

Take a look at those titles. Does it strike you as odd that an insurance company is making so much money? Let’s review what an insurance company is supposed to be. We, the little guy, pay a monthly premium to our insurance company for which they hold for later possible payouts. Now, I’m aware that the insurance company doesn’t need to hold all the money in reserves for claim payout, but should there really be such an excess in premiums versus the money paid for claims that insurance companies are able to post record profits. That can only mean that either a) we are being over charged for premiums, or b) we are being underpaid for our health care claims… or perhaps both!

It’s time for the people of the United States to stand up and stop allowing these companies to literally kick us when we are down! It’s time to take the power away from private companies over our health, and put the power into the public’s hands… our government, the government that is by the people, for the people.

Calories or Prices... or both

Are we really this oblivious?! Do we really not care about anything other than the present gratification of our wants? This is crazy! According to this Seattle Times article:

Ivar's posted its nutrition information about three weeks ago, crew member James Fisher said, but nothing much has changed.

"People don't care," he said. At worst, they get mixed up and think the calorie counts are really the prices.

I think it’s time to up our standards for primary education if people can’t tell the difference between nutritional information and product pricing. Or perhaps Mr. Fisher is on to something... if Cold Stone charged $10.00 - $20.40 for a "Gotta Have It" sized ice cream, we may wipe out our obesity problem pretty fast!