Be INFORMED

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Senior Citizens:Turn Off FoxNews…

….and then get a grip.

From Crooks and Liars

September 23, 2010 02:30 PM

Dear Senior Citizens, Turn off Fox and Pay Attention

By karoli

Dear Senior Citizens,

I know you think Glenn Beck is the new Jesus and the black guy in the Oval Office is a Muslim pretender, but for the love of all that's holy, turn off Fox News and pay attention.

That ad at the top of this post? They LIE. They are LYING TO YOU. Don't believe me? How about Politifact? Or if Politifact doesn't do it for you, how about your own pocketbooks?

Yes, your own pocketbooks. Because in addition to the donut hole closure, those of you who are enrolled in Medicare Advantage will see your premiums drop next year. That's right. Your premiums will go down in 2011.

Medicare officials said they had held down premiums and co-payments by negotiating with insurers, which sponsor the Medicare Advantage plans.

The law, signed by Mr. Obama in March, gave officials new power to negotiate and to reject bids, as they did in a few cases.

“We negotiated more aggressively than in the past,” said Jonathan D. Blum, deputy administrator of the Medicare agency. “As a result, some plans changed their bids to produce more value for beneficiaries.”

On average,” Mr. Blum said, “Medicare Advantage premiums will be 1 percent lower in 2011 than today. Medicare Advantage plans project that enrollment will increase by 5 percent in 2011.

Yes, you senior citizens claiming your Medicare is being "cut" need to quit listening to your heroes at Fox News and pay attention to facts. While the rest of us suck up big increases because we don't have the benefit of the federal government negotiating on our behalf, YOU and YOU ALONE will see your premiums go down.

I'd better not see you with a sign saying for government to keep their hands off your Medicare after this. That will make it very difficult for me to respect my elders.

Also, a question for the "repeal and replace" crowd. Who will explain why you want to take premium reductions away from seniors?

Are Americans Addicted To Their Electronics?

 

    Of course we are! I myself did not realize how much I depend on my computers until I had to go offline on a regular basis for almost a year. I keep in contact with the majority of my friends through Skype and regular email. Then we also have our smartphones,witch is one device that I have not cared to purchase yet.

    When you look around you,all that you will probably see while you are driving are other drivers either talking on their cellphones or texting on them.

Rasmussen

Americans are concerned that, in today’s technological age, we may have become too dependent on electronic devices such as computers and calculators.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 70% of adults are concerned that Americans have become too dependent on electronic devices, with 41% who are Very Concerned. Twenty-eight percent (28%) are not worried, but that includes just four percent (4%) who are Not At All Concerned about our dependence on these devices.

It has been estimated that roughly 20% of Americans use smartphones and 80% own a computer. However, just 26% of Americans admit that they spend too much time using the Internet, computers and mobile communications devices. This is roughly the same as in late January. Sixty-nine percent (69%) say they do not spend too much time using such technology.

But 75% of adults said at that time that young children spend too much time on computers and other electronic devices.

Adults under 50 are more likely to say they overuse technology than those who are older.

Adults with children at home and higher-income adults are also more likely to feel they spend too much time using the Internet and other related technologies.       More