Dependence Day

At first glance you might assume this title to be an egregious error.  Please stay with me, in this new century, we American citizens may celebrate the 4th of July not as “Independence Day” but as “Dependence Day”.   We are fast becoming that kind of country.  Life has increasingly become a search for a “sugar daddy” governmental angle which, for many, will take care of their daily needs, at least the financial ones.  Welfare benefits with it’s pyramid of bureaucracy, the disability lifestyle, food stamps, housing assistance, the unemployment lifestyle, false disability insurance claims and excessive taxpayer funded salaries, benefits and pensions, have all exploded in the last four years of President O’bama.  

These programs are no longer disrespected in our country.  In fact, those who work and earn their own living  are considered saps when compared to this new national ethic.  Are we to forget about individual initiative, creativity, personal responsibility, risk, courage and dreaming beyond our own personal circumstances?  Are we to expect our government to make personal financial failure the remotest of possibilities?  The growth of big governmental programs would seem to indicate that our citizenry wants that kind of Americana.  The voter says to each political personage, “what can you do for me?”  The question has always been a part of our politics but in our present self absorbed culture, has not the citizen voter become blind to any of the other greater American values like patriotism, community, sacrifice and a shared understanding of the common good?  What or who is your sugar daddy?

In the upcoming presidential election we are staring at the same politic used by the Democrats to win the election of Jerry Brown as Governor of California in 2010.  An election that will happen this time on the national stage.  On Brown’s team were the big government forces that included the hard political left, the public sector unions, the welfare crowd and the influence of the ethnic minorities.  President O’bama is now busy rallying all these same forces in the hope that they will do for him what they did for Governor Moonbeam.  All these voters have a financial interest in a bigger government that promises to take care of the people and supposedly meet their every desire.

Will such a political strategy work on the national stage?  We shall see but a dependent America is not the historical America that we older citizens have treasured.  Our time is fast passing to be an influence upon younger generations and the future America.  Those Americans who follow us have the right and ultimately will decide this issue and design America anew.  As difficult as it may be, freeing the youngsters to decide and letting go of the future of America is a part of the life cycle.  But for now, as far as this writer is concerned, America will not have a “sugar daddy government” that makes Americans dependent persons.

G.Goslaw
Landers, CA  

Gratitude

Thank you, John Roberts, chief justice of the Supreme Court of the United States of America.  Yesterday’s deciding opinion on the Obama healthcare plan was an absolute stroke of genius, regardless of your intent. No longer is the presidential election of 2012 about the competency of the respective candidates, it is now about defining America. Who are we as a country? What will our founding principles be going forward?

Are we to be a big government institution with politicians picking winners and losers? If that is your preferred governmental model, clearly vote for Obama and the Democratic ticket. If you don’t like the idea of politicians getting into your junk, vote and then insist on a country that treasures the American uniqueness, the personal freedom of each individual.

Does that mean a vote for a moderate Republican candidate and a Republican party that is as self-involved as are the Democrats? Yes, that is the only hope for the peoples politics. Should Romney and the Republicans win, the peoples politic remains a long way off but if we the people stay engaged, the peoples America will happen. If Obama wins reelection and another four years, the big government model will be cemented into the nations fabric for as long as we remain a country.

My hope is that I am overstating the consequence of this election. The election is, however, a clear choice between two Americas. The American way to make such a momentous choice is to take a vote of all the people, a pivotal vote in 2012, what do we the people want?

G.Goslaw
Landers, Ca.

The Simple Fix

Here we go again!  The knowledgeable conservative voter has no real choice in another Presidential election.  Please forgive me as I mention the last thirty two years of the historical record.  In the presidential race of 1988 and 1992, George H. W. Bush was the Republican establishment choice, in 1996 Senator Robert Dole was the chosen one, in 2000 and 2004 George W. Bush was elected by the narrowest of margins and in 2008 the inept Senator John Mc Cain lead the Republican party to a resounding defeat, giving us President Barack Obama.  In the upcoming presidential election of 2012, Mitt Romney has won the job of confronting Barack Obama in his reelection bid.  The last quasi conservative presidential candidate or President was Ronald Reagan, who won election in 1980 and 1984.

The unifying character of all these Republicans, except Reagan, is that each one is an establishment moderate Republican politician, meaning that they are timid political adolescents who will inevitably  decide “to go with the flow”.  George W. Bush raised taxes despite a no new tax pledge.  He thought he could appease the liberal Democratic call for higher taxes to support bigger government.  The Democrats responded to his courage by refusing to cut spending as promised.  Senator Dole was a good man and a war hero but he had no real message, persona or governing experience to ignite the electorate.  As a result, William Jefferson Clinton was elected our forty second President.  President Clinton began by governing as a typical big government Democrat but his sexual scandal in the White House forced him to embrace some conservative policies in order to survive politically.  Surprisingly, for the first and only time since President Reagan, smaller government programs with the resulting lower cost and lower taxes produced good economic times for working, tax paying Americans.

George W. Bush was elected or crowned by the Supreme Court as President 43.  To King George’s credit, he never claimed to be conservative thinking, just another moderate establishment Republican, advancing bigger government programs in education, the supposed war on terror and feeding the insatiable dollar appetite of our war economy.  In addition, the insane expansion of housing programs for those folk who cannot afford to buy a house was pushed by Democratic liberal mentalities in Congress.  The Republicans offered little resistance as they were busy warmongering.  They stood by passively or even assisted when Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac were allowed to insanely expand.  Home ownership had become the unreal expectation of every American.

These good times were short lived, as we all know, the resulting economic pain from the bursting economic bubble threatened and profoundly impacted every American.  Well, it was painful for almost every American.  Our bumbling politicians bailed out the Wall Street banks who were largely responsible for the housing collapse.  Our bumbling politicians poured billions of taxpayer money into major industries, particularly union companies.  Our bumbling politicians enacted a “one trillion dollar” stimulus bill that was supposedly to ensure a speedy economic recovery.  Instead, most of the money was used to expand the governmental public sector and ensure for them a pain free recession.  The federal workforce was increased, little wonder that real estate prices in Washington D.C. went up when the rest of the country was losing equity.  Then our bumbling politicians sent a majority of the money to the states to fund the public sector, teachers, police, firefighters and emergency workers.  And of course, our bumbling politicians in every context were shielded from economic pain.

The private sector has been abandoned by our bumbling politicians to shoulder most of the economic pain.  The job creators of our economy were left to fend for themselves straddling ever increasing governmental regulation.  Is there any doubt as to why the unemployment numbers have remained so high?  Is there any doubt why so many Americans have given up hope for a job?  Is there any doubt why so many have elected to go on Social Security early?  Is there any doubt why the welfare and food stamp rolls have ballooned, in some cases doubling?  Is there any doubt why our college graduates have dismal prospects for employment in their field of study?  Is there any doubt why our high school kids can’t find a part time job?  Is there any doubt why our young adults are choosing to live with their parents into their thirties?  President O’Bama talks about economic fairness when his recovery policies are the exact antithesis of fairness.  Such rhetoric is so unjustified as to be simply a lie.  In cowardly fashion, those working in the government, the public sector and the unions support the lie.

Again, I apologize for this historical recitation but doesn’t the history make we voting taxpaying Americans wonder why we have been so stupid?  We support politicians who fail us and then they take no responsibility by dodging to blame the politicians of the other political party.  They are con artists and we keep playing their gamers.  Possibly it is time for the voting public to stop tolerating the political games and insist upon authentic conservative leadership.  We have yet to try that simple fix.  That kind of president will lead us toward smaller government, true tax reform, a balanced budget and a working America.  Why would we want to  accept anything less?

G.Goslaw
Landers, Ca.

Goslaw Homestead

June 7, 2012

Dear family and friends,

This note is a “thank you” to all those who enabled this vagabond to purchase the property at 1990 Gibraltar Road in Landers, California. Our house has quickly become home for Hammer and I. After living out of a veritable suitcase for the last ten years and now settling in a place that is mine, this new homeowner is filled with wonder and gratitude. The property fits all the hopes I had believed in and anguished over for the last four months. Out there somewhere was: (1) a rural property with acreage, (2) a property with as few neighbors as possible, (3) a well kept property that is finance ready. (4) a small house of about 1000 square feet priced at no more than $75,000 with payments less than $500.00 a month, to include P & I, property tax and insurance. This proved to be a daunting task.

The search began in Apple Valley, then Lucerne Valley, then Hesperia, Phelan, Wrightwood, Palmdale, Tehachapi, Barstow and Newberry Springs. Nothing came close to all that I was asking and a few cash buyer‘s cut me out of the pattern with lesser homes. Real Estate agent Tom Marti of Keller Williams in Victorville was very helpful and a consummate professional. Thank you Tom, your real estate education, advice and patience with my narrow search was much appreciated but no amount of effort could magically produce “the house”. Out of desperation the search was broadened to Big Bear, Arizona and then to the Yucca Valley area via the zillow website. I recruited agent Herbert Brewer of Coldwell Banker in Yucca Valley for a look at an interesting property that I thought had potential. Upon inspection we agreed that the house was in much worse shape than advertised and that it would not finance.

Returning to Mom’s house (thank you Mom), discouraged after another seemingly wasted trip, I went back on the zillow website to find the property at 1990 Gibralter, Landers. One dirt road sign and the county records spell it Gibralter, while all the rest of the dirt road signs spell it Gibraltar. Go figure but Herbert says Landers will be Landers, I will be spelling it with the “ar” ending. Mr. Don Madderra was just putting the finishing touches on an excellent rehab of this 1100 sq. ft., 2 bedroom, 1 ½ bath home, most of the house had been reconstructed from the ground up. The house is very impressive but the trees and the huge garage made the property a “gotta have”. The house sit’s on 2 acres and all the neighbors rooftops are only visible in the far distance while 3 to 5 vehicles pass by the front of the house per day, heaven. Herbert suggested we offer the asking price, $75,000, with the seller paying 6% of the buyer‘s closing costs. We returned to Yucca Valley and wrote up the offer and within the next few days it was accepted. Thank you Herbert and especially Mr. Madderra.

The next hurdle was to nail down financing. I was approved by a local lender in Victorville but three other national lenders baulked at the decided lack of cash on hand to make the deal work. I guess sixty seven years of paying my bills counts for very little. Herbert introduced me to a local lender in Yucca Valley, Mojave Mortgage Group, ably represented by Walter Reed. I was assured that my good credit would counterbalance my lack of financial liquidity and such was the case. Walter suggested a USGA no down loan that is specific to rural areas like Landers and with the seller paying 6% toward closing, I should get back the cost of an appraisal and the earnest money deposit.  All this was great for my situation, we came to agreeable terms and the deal was off to the escrow company. Thank you Mojave Mortgage Group, Walter, Shannon and Shirley.

Being a pessimist at heart, my expectation was that this proposed purchase would somehow also become a decided disappointment. I was one anxious dude. It didn’t help that the bank was JP Morgan Chase and there was one delay after another with the bank’s approval of the escrow paperwork. Collette Baker at Fidelity Mortgage was finally able to call me to come in and sign at the “X”, multitudinous times, the bank had given her the green light. My blood pressure probably took a hit over those two or three days but in the word‘s of somebody, “all’s well that end’s well”. Thank you Collette and the other ladies at Fidelity and thank you Chase Bank.

I still cannot believe my good fortune, just to buy any property would have been an accomplishment but to walk into seeming perfection is beyond any of my expectations. I am overjoyed. Perfect is a big word that is never realized in this world but 1990 Gilbraltar is so very close to perfection that I will not complain about the few miniscule negatives. The family furniture that has been in storage for 15 to 20 years seems to belong to every wall. The oriental rug, soiled long ago in our house on Wrangler Lane, Victorville, is now a welcome rug on the front porch. There is a concrete slab foundation in place, just the right size, for a future garage for my Peterbilt. There is much to be done a bit at a time but what’s the hurry? Karen would have loved this house, would that we could have shared it.

If I were to believe that God get’s personally involved in our lives, stumbling into 1990 Gibraltar could be a convincing personal proof.  It is as if the Goslaw homestead was designed from above. Thank you Lord and help mine unbelief.

G.Goslaw
P.O.Box 3216
Landers, Ca 92285
760-364-3425

The Devil's Due

This observer of the political scene would rather vote for the devil than another Bush, McCain, Romney establishment Republican. Am I a Democrat to be filled with such animus? No, I consider myself an independent because most of Washington politics and both parties are corrupt. Most politicians are financially obligated to do the bidding of the wealthy, corporate business types, particularly those of Wall Street. My vote for Barrack Obama was a hope for real change and a reaction to John McCain’s failure to demand accountability from Wall Street. He wouldn’t stand up so he didn’t get my vote or respect.

President Barack Obama’s promises were and are tragically empty but the answer is not a Mitt Romney who will only better manager the unfolding national disaster. Why have conservative looking Republicans so quickly gathered under the Romney banner? It would appear that they are scared stiff without an authentic champion to do battle with Obama and most importantly to win that battle. The country is now even in greater need of the people’s conservatism, some would say our time is an American tipping point. However, it appears that the people will not be given a real choice in the upcoming Presidential election. I guess I’ll have to give the devil his due.

G.Goslaw Victorville, Ca

Compounded Evil

Daily Press Victorville, Ca.

Re: “Health and Taxes”, Stan Brown, Daily Press opinion, December 8, 2011.

Stan Brown, what planet do you live on? Is everything a mere partisan squabble? Is it not time to look for the greater good for all Americans? The payroll tax cut has been tried and it failed to leverage new jobs. It only gave already working and thriving public sector workers’ a few extra dollars to spend at the expense of the governmentally abused private sector. The President wants fairness, well so does the private sector, the struggling blue collar underemployed and the unemployed.

The direct victim of these tax cuts are those of us who depend upon the Social Security system for our retirement and medical care. Did you know that the payroll tax, which we paid all of our working days, is supposed to fund this system? Of course you do but do you care? Social Security benefits are in trouble and can only get worse as we baby boomers retire. Medicare is broke, wasteful and at times dysfunctional. These systems, however, are the promise of politicians from both political parties, as a loyal Democrat you should be concerned about the viability of these systems.

Social Security and Medicare need reform but no Democrat, including the President, is stepping to the plate to suggest a fix. You glibly assign ulterior motives to the Republicans when looking in the mirror might prove useful. Instead, the President is playing Robin Hood in reverse, robbing from the poor and giving to the rich with this unfunded payroll tax cut.

Politicians from both parties have for decades pillaged the Social Security system. Now is the day of accountability, the day for politicians to begin to make amends for their thievery. Reform has to happen but asking the Social Security system to support the privileged is compounded evil.

G.Goslaw Victorville, Ca.

An Appeal

11/14/2011

Glen L. Goslaw

Scan Health Plan

ATTN:Grievance and Appeals Department 3800 Kilroy Way, Suite 100- P.O. Box 22644 Long Beach, CA 90801

Re: Notice of Denial of Medical Coverage

This is my written appeal for a 72 hour review of your denial of medical services, dated 11/08/2011 and received by mail on 11/12/2011. The basic reason for the appeal against this denial is that you contract for services with Heritage Victor Valley Medical Group, who has provided lousy care for this Scan member over the last eleven months. I could recount the long history of medical boners but let me attempt to stay on point. There seems to be no competent or appropriate vascular surgeon affiliated with this medical group and they and you have spit at the medical welfare of this patient.

Vascular surgeon # 1….. Dr. Suval of Victorville.

Dr. Suval informed me that he did not treat ascending aortic aneurisms, only the lower vascular system. He did a lower vascular CAT scan and found no abnormalities. Dr. Suval is either a liar or Heritage sent this patient to a doctor who could not treat an ascending aortic aneurism. This was an erroneous referral and should not count against the plans maximum of two referrals to an appropriate specialist.

Vascular surgeon # 2….. Dr. Alturjuman of Riverside.

Dr. Alturjuman admitted me to Riverside Community hospital the second week April, 2011, with horrendous chest pain. This was the third such occurrence since January 4 of 2011, he did another complete heart workup with multiple CAT scans and a stress test, repeating the tests of January at St. Mary’s in Apple Valley. The pain went away after about 12 hours and Dr. Alturjuman insinuated the pain wasn’t real and discharged me in one day, on a Sunday night. Monday morning I drove myself back down to Riverside and got my medical records for the stay just completed. The report from the CAT scan described my heart as “grossly enlarged”. I marched up to his office and asked pointedly, how can this be when you discharged me without a word? His only response was, “you can make another appointment”. Lame, baby, lame.

The pain returned within a week and I was rushed by ambulance to St. Mary’s in Apple Valley. With this fourth occurrence in four months, they removed 200ml of fluid from the heart sack but the fluid returned in 12 hours. With no other alternative, they sent me by ambulance to Dr. McPherson at Saint Vincent Medical Center in LA. The services at this hospital were excellent, as was the surgery to drain my heart with a “pericardial window”. Since this surgery on April 23, 2011, I have experienced no pain. Even this dummy has figured out that the “grossly enlarged heart” was fluid not a “grossly enlarged heart”. Dr. Alturjaman has caused this Scan member anxiety with his incompetent care and I will not return for more of the same.

Let’s get back to the ascending aortic aneurysm. The CAT scan in January 2011 alerted the doctors to the aneurysm. I was told by Heritage Medical group doctors that in all three Cat Scans the aneurysm measured 4.5 cm. The last was in April 2011 and again I was informed that it was 4.5 cm and stable. Not so, for at a routine appointment on November 8, 2011, my new primary care physician informed me that the written report for the April CAT scan measured the aneurysm at up to 4.9 cm. The game being played by Heritage and Scan is to risk a negative outcome to this member in order to hopefully save a few dollars. Scan and Heritage, how long are you willing to wait when my life is at risk? Possibly your plan was for me to drop dead or change insurance companies by December 7. Motive enough, I guess , for you to keep quiet about the unstable aneurysm. Thankfully, my new honest primary physician was alert to your game. I am now insisting on an appointment with a cardiovascular surgeon, other than the two aforementioned doctors.

The final injustice resulting in this diatribe is that Heritage Medical Group and Scan have failed to pay Dr. McPherson for the surgery in April. The $9000 bill has been repeatedly sent to me, and Scan. The account is now in collections with my name on it. All the TV and newspaper advertising of your organizations cannot mitigate your dismal history with this member. I shall remain locked into your system until you pay that surgery bill! After that I will make an exit asap to anywhere besides Scan and Heritage Victor Valley Medical Group.

Please send this Scan member to another vascular surgeon, preferably Dr. McPherson at LA Cardiovascular, and do it now.

G.Goslaw Victorville, CA