My Brother's Harassment with Butler County Sheriffs and Hamilton City P.D.

This is Tim's (my younger brother) letter to Channel 9 News:

Dear Channel 9 News:

I purchased my 2005 Ford Mustang in 2008 a year after the first Transformers movie came out in theaters. Being a huge fan of this blockbuster movie I decided to “transform” my car into a Decepticon: Barricade, a police car. I started in the redesigning process of my car not too long after I bought it. Every emblem, the light-bar, & all of the badges/tags are an exact replica from the movie car and as well does not specify any city, county, or state law enforcement agency. Stephanie Baldwin called the sheriff office in Hamilton Ohio to find out if having a functional light bar on my car was okay. The Clerk told her that as long as I don’t operate it on public roads that it would not be a problem.  

In July of 2012 my father, Stephanie, and I took my mustang and my father’s mustang (as well is an ’05) to Myrtle Beach, SC to the annual Mustang Week. Where mustangs from all over the United States convene to show off the vast collections of these amazing cars from all over. The three of us had to drive through 6 different states to get to this car show; we had no conflict with city, county, or state police during our travels.

October 5, 2012 around 1:00 PM, I was pulled over by a Butler County Sheriff to talk with me about my car. He asked me if I had talked to anybody about the decals and the light bar I told him that we called the sheriff’s office and checked. He asked me details about what I have done to the car and if he could see everything turned on. He said that my car was pretty impressive that I was able to do all the upgrades myself and that he really liked it; he sent me on my way without a ticket, warning or suggesting that I take anything off.  Then on October 13, 2012, my father (Robert Selby), and girlfriend (Stephanie Baldwin), and I attended a car show in Xenia, Ohio. I was in a car accident right after the car show and a State Highway Patrol Officer, Timothy Bullock, was called to the scene. The Officer at the scene told me that he would have to check into the car to see if what I had on my car was ok to drive. He came back and stated that everything was fine and that there were no laws being broken. 

My car had not been driven from October 13, 2012 until January 2013, due to being in the shop for repairs.

I had my car back for maybe a few weeks in early-mid February, when I was on my way back from watching my niece and was pulling right out of McDonalds parking lot onto Washington Boulevard. I went up to the light on the corner of Washington Boulevard and Eaton Avenue in the Left turning lane with my left turn signal on. It was right around midnight when I was sitting at the red light a Butler County Sheriff pulled up behind me, and a Hamilton City Police officer to my right.  Sitting at this light for about 3 minutes when the Hamilton City P.D. backed his car up to the Butler County Sherriff and talked. When the light turned green I proceeded to turn. The Hamilton Police Officer pulled behind the Sheriff and the Sheriff and Police Officer pulled me over. I put my flashers on and pulled into the Hamilton High School parking lot so that we were out of the street. All of a sudden I noticed that there was five police cruisers at the scene, 3 Hamilton City Officers and 2 Butler County Sheriffs. I felt like they thought I had just committed a serious crime and I still had no idea why they were all pulling me over. All of the cruisers had their spotlights on my car and myself.  Officers were reaching inside my car and banging on the light-bar and one even said, “Off the record I like your car,” and the Hamilton City Officers stood by taking pictures of my car with their cell phones. The Sheriff was shining a flashlight on my light bar trying to see what color the lights were. When I was asked to get out of my car, the Butler County Sherriff gave me a “pat down” looking for weapons, or paraphernalia which took him about 10 seconds. I complied with everything that was asked of me, all but permission to search my car. I remained calm when answering all of the interrogating questions that were extremely random. I was harassed by five police officers that night for no reason at all. I was not doing anything wrong! Then the Sheriff wrote me a ticket for a CRIMINAL CHARGE that was still under a minor misdemeanor and threatened to tow my car if him or his fellow officers ever seen it on the road again. As well it took this officer a good 10-15 minutes to actually write this ticket.  Our community is trying to prevent bullying and that was all that they were doing. I was sent to court on February 28^, 2013 where I pled Not Guilty to the charge. From there they set a court date for April 2^, 2013 where it was continued, due to the magistrate having another case to hear. It was then continued to April 9, 2013 where it was then continued to May 14, 2013 do to the Officer who wrote the ticket did not show up. While all this time I was unable to drive my car. Then on May 14, 2013 the Officer who charged me did not show up to court again so the case was dismissed.  State Trooper Timothy Bullock was summoned to court on my behalf to testify that my car was not illegal to drive at all two hearings, as well he appeared all two times and was happy to help me out in this predicament.

            May 20, 2013 three officers came to my house to take a family member into questioning, before they had all left they stopped and talked with me about my car. They stated that there was nothing illegal about my car and they complimented me on all of my hard work and heart that I have put onto the car. They even said that they would rather have my car to patrol around in, than the cruisers they currently had.

            On May 22, 2013 I took my girlfriend to her moms work to pick up her check that was sent to her moms house. On our way there I passed THREE cop cars; 1st was directly behind me going towards the Hamilton Freshman building coming from New Miami then drove beside me and did nothing. The 2nd one was Turning at a light coming towards me and did nothing. The 3rd one was at Speedway Gas station on the corner of Washington Boulevard and Eaton Avenue (the same corner where I was pulled over and harassed by the 3 Hamilton City Officers, and the 2 Butler County Sheriffs) pulling into a pump right next to me, the officer said nothing to me, as well did nothing to acknowledge even my existence. It was pretty obvious, myself and my car was not breaking any laws by simply being.

            We were home for approximately 15-20 minutes, which would make it around 5 o’clock, a Butler County Sheriff pulls into my driveway.  The first thing that the Officer asked me was what agency I had worked for. Not the usual “Were you driving this vehicle in (blah, blah, blah – listing of the place and time of concern). It could have been my father driving my car, it’s in his name, or it could have been my girlfriend, or any of my five brothers and sisters, but no he automatically assumed that “I” was the one driving because he had a “so called” witness. But not wanting to cause any trouble or give any suspicion of being noncompliant, I responded with “I do not work for one sir.” He had to ask me that because there is NOTHING on my car that has to do with any jurisdiction of police officers.  The officer then started going on about how he had a “witness” willing to testify that I had ran two red lights and was doing double or even triple the speed limit in a school zone by the high school. My girlfriend was in the car with me when I was accused of running these red lights. Hamilton High School was let out at 1:30 P.M. for an early dismissal. Stephanie drove through this school zone on her way home from work at Fort Hamilton, when the lights were on, letting cars know to slow down and watch for pedestrians.  The only school zone that had active school zone lights, was at Fillmore on Main, Street and I was going with the flow of traffic at 16-18 mph. Again, my girlfriend was in my car and is a witness to that. 

            The Officer that came to my house told me that he was giving me a verbal warning, as well he asked me if I thought that having the word “Police” on the side of my car and a light bar made me feel beneficial to all the other citizens by speeding, doing U-turns and running lights? He had not witnessed me doing any of that; therefore he has no right to accuse me of it. I told him “No sir I do not. I have not broken any laws because I did not run through red lights or speed through a school zone.” I also told him how I wanted to become a Hamilton Police Officer and tried State Highway patrol but that wasn’t for me. The officer told me that I will not get anywhere with all of that on my car and suggested that I take it all off. But he also stated earlier in the conversation that I was not breaking any laws with what was on my car. So why would I have to take everything off if he stated that there was no issue at first? This Officer did not see me commit anything wrong nor did he have the right to come to my own home to harass me over something that is merely “hear-say,” again if there was even a witness. The Officer would not even listen to what I had to say. When I tried to speak, explain, or even ask a question he always interrupted me by putting up his right hand (as if to stop me mid statement) and stated that “he knew the law” and I apparently did not.

            My family and I are not putting up with this ridiculous situation anymore. They are criticizing me as a bad person when I have built this car for kids and the enjoyment of others. I have taken my car to a middle school where I let kids see my car and sit inside. This whole idea was for the kids. Kids go to car shows with their parents all of the time and I figured a replica of Barricade at a car show would be interesting for kids and it is; parents and teens are also very interested in my car and I am always receiving compliments. I always let kids and adults sit in my car because I am doing this for them. 

What I don’t get or even begin to understand is why are the Butler County Sheriffs, and Hamilton City Police Officers harassing me about my car when there is nothing on there that is impersonating a police officer and myself having no intention on EVER impersonating a police officer? Your guess will be as good as mine.

            I’m tired of being hit left and right with an officer saying “Your car is fine to drive, I see no problem with it” and another officer pulling me over and finding any and every issue under the sun with my car and writing me a citation for what is so called illegal. Before any and all modifications were done to my car, I called and made sure everything I was doing was legal so I wouldn’t face all the ramifications that I’m currently dealing with. I haven’t been able to drive my car for well over 8 almost 9 months without dealing with some issue pertaining to my car. This has gotten old and extremely annoying. My car does not pose any threats it is for show. It is for children and adults. It is for the public to share in the fact that the Transformers movies were produced in a manor that all generations can enjoy. Can Channel 9 News help me shed some deeper light that bullying occurs EVERYWHERE in our society, even among police who are to protect and defend the people who pay their salaries for REAL crime.

            To get a hold of me please contact me at: 513.252.1239 or email him at baricade64305@yahoo.com.

Thank you,

Tim Selby

May 25, 2013

Update: Tonight my father, my girlfriend and I went to a car show in Hamilton, at Rural King – in the Burger King parking lot on Main St. On our way there I was pulled over by a New Miami P.D. Unit who was headed in the opposite direction and turned his unit around to pull me over. The officer informed me that Butler County has a “Be on the look out” label on my car. Once this officer was finished informing me of this warning that Butler County has on my car, he advised me that he really liked my car. This officer tried to tell me that I “ran a red light” and that was the reason for him pulling me over when he clearly did a “U” turn when I wasn’t even near a traffic light. When I informed him of his “U” turn before the light he then confirmed with me that the reason he pulled me over was for “the code” that Butler County Sheriffs has put out on my car. THIS IS TOTALLY UNPROFESSIONAL, AND BECOMING TREMENDOUSLY MORE THAN JUST HARASSMENT… IT’S BORDER LINE ENTRAPMENT OR BETTER YET STALKING!!!

I have put together a powerpoint of pictures that I'm trying to attach to the email (but my computer is being stupid)

Pruning a rose garden so it can flourish

I've been apart of an outreach ministry now for about 6 to 7 years.

While I was apart of a small group from the Vineyard Community Church in Tri-County. Sara (the small group leader) invited me to help serve on a "Second Mile Saturday" team; The Good Samaritan Run (aka: The Good Sam Run, GSR). At the GSR before we go to downtown Cincinnati, we meet up in the Great Room at the VCC church to make the Turkey, Cheese, and Mustard sandwiches, sort though and individually bag the donated bake goods, and mix together juice or hot chocolate. Generally, we have a little devotion and prayer before get head out.  This is done every Saturday; rain, snow, ice, or sunshine. I know of maybe two times of the GSR not going out and that is only because of there being consequences for being on the roads. This team has been going to Washington Park (which is now a doggie park and a parking garage), and our new location on Liberty St (across from Shell Gas Station)for 11-12 years.

Talk about taking myself out of my comfort zone and putting me in the front lines of service, right here at "home" and not out on a mission trip in another country. But being apart of this amazing team/group of people has helped me grow in more ways than I can even begin to describe.

I've made relationships with people who I would never have thought to associate myself with. In my mind and heart when I first started volunteering my time, I was wanting to go and bless those who were hungry with; food, a nice smile/words, a listening heart/ears, and the love of the Father. I was not expecting anything in return. But it all was 10x's more! I've made relationships, bonds with children, men and women down there that I honestly wouldn't know who I would be if I didn't have them in my life. I can think of specific moments when I went, and was just going through the motions of passing out food. Not really talking to anyone, not really wanting to be there, but there was no where else I had to be when God sent a dear friend that I've made down there to give me a huge spiritual hug and let me know that everything was going to be okay. I was there to bless others, but on that day I was the one being blessed and lifted up. Talk about being humble.

With being in college again, my time is completely limited. With having multiple papers due, Spanish to learn and study, chapter readings, and exams to prepare for I haven't been able to be down there every Saturday. Unfortunately, my heart feels empty when I can't make it down there for 2 to 3 hours on a Saturday with the GSR team.

But now, I've just learned this past week that a good friend who's been leading this team of people for quite some time is stepping down. That's okay! God has timing for everything! As this body of Christ, this team of volunteers, goes through this time of change in leadership and the unknown I feel like God is saying that He wants to take us to a higher level of service and a higher level of worship. Much like pruning the dead leaves off of a rose bush. We need to make way for bigger and better things that God has for us to take, use, and do.

God may want us to team up with the Dream Center of Cincinnati? Or he may have something different in mind for us all together? I love all who I serve with on this team, and all the children, men, and women I serve. I'm leaving the pains that change has in the hands of the Father. He is the one who holds tomorrow, and He is the one who knows my future. I will walk with my Heavenly Abba through anything.

Could of been? But then....

This is not a "I hate my life and wish I made different choices" kind of blog. But here lately I have been thinking about if I chose different paths in my past, where would I be today? Would I like who I was? Would I be sincerely happy with myself?

For example, if I did choose to go to the Art Institute of Chicago back in 2002 would I be living in the windy city? Would I be working in a large design firm?

Or lets go back a little further if I didn't go that route to school that morning in high school... would my life be different? Would I be different?

Things have been playing over and over and over in my head of what could have been.

But then again, if those things did actually take place... I wouldn't be who the person I am today. I wouldn't have the relationships that I have today. I wouldn't be the woman who've I become. I wouldn't have gone to the places that I've been too. I wouldn't have been as impacted, touched, and blessed as I am now.

I'm human though... I just wonder sometimes....

:oD

It was a clear as day (with no rain) message to me

This past Friday my plans were really scattered. Last Sunday at church David Maynard, the owner of the campground "Pleasant Vineyard Ministries," made an announcement about an art retreat going on this weekend at the camp. They had something like this like 2 years ago, I remember that I wanted to attend it then too, but was unable to do so. So I approached him about attending this weekend.... Long story short... I did go.

But that isn't the odd... ok not odd. Let's say SLAP in my face, telling me that I should go. All day I had been bouncing back and forth, then juggling a bunch of ideas for "Friday night festivities." In the forefront of my mind was this retreat, but then the fact that I had NOTHING packed... clothes, bedding,  bathroom materials, as well as my acrylic art supplies; including brushes, paper towels, etc. As well, I needed to find a book that I was willing to turn it into something different. So I guessed, or "made my mind up not to go" (because I wasn't ready to go). Kinda bummed, I had settled on going to small group that's on Friday nights, because I hadn't been in at least 2 months (school reasons, and lack of cash for gas). But then something really odd happend, or should I say devine. My last friend (student) left at like 4:30, and I spent like 30-45 minutes closing my room. I even double checked things TWICE. So I clocked out at like 5:15 PM. So I made a phone call to my friend David to see if everything was still standing with his offer to me.

I had time to go home, change my shirt, and I grabbed three books: Crazy Love, and my two books of poetry that I've written in over the past 5 years. In the back of my mind I really didn't want to take apart these two books, but I grabbed them any way.

Going to the camp, turns out that it's only like 10 minutes from my house!! So I actually got there at like 6:30ish. How can I say that I wasn't ment to be there?

The name of this retreat was: Spiritual Awakenings; A Creativity Retreat

When I got there during the time when Trisha McKinney was giving us the run down on what exactly we'd be doing, I really realized I did not want to do what was being talked about doing to our books. Everybody else had books that were hard-backed, had thick pages, etc... I then realized that I did have a book that I could use. It was the Beth Moore book Living Free. I had this book in the trunk of my car right after I graduated from SAA. So we are talking that it's been in my car's trunk for like 7 years.

While everyone else was prepping their books/pages; I was taking everything out of my trunk to find this book. In the midst of my search I started have a little freak out attack because it wasn't exactly where I thought I had seen it last. It was under the "fold" out seat that I won from the American Heart Association's "Walk-a-thon."

Since I didn't have anything else with me so all I did was just prep for actually painting the next day.

This was the name tage that Trisha made for us:

Now I didn't get the entire book completed. But I did get a few pages finished, as well as I got a good head start on 3 other pages.

This is the cover:

These next two pieces are on both sides of the book. As well I've covered all the words except for 7: "Ministry, Guiding believers, God, I will, Pray, Abundant Life."

As well in my gesso that I painted as my base I wrote in the wet paint, on the right side; "We are" & the left side; "Forever love."

The next one I actually cut from the book as a free piece of paper. I reenforced the page with a thicker piece of paper and covered one side in gesso. I attempted so much with this paper, and I never liked what it came out to be. This being said, this piece was actually my first attempted at this new style of painting.  It's still not finished. But you can see what it is now. I originally had a lot of words picked out for this page. But now there is only one word that, technically, not painted, but it accidentally kinda is, "Relying." 

This next one came out, I think rather, cool! The main idea of this page was "Strongholds." The title pf this page in the book was, "Demolishing Strongholds" and I liked it, so I kept it. A well, "A Mighty Fortress, Strong, Did not have to be afraid." And scripture, "With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth" and "The Lord is my light... whom shall I be afraid."

The next one I used leaves on, Halloween Spider Webbing (which I took off when it was dry), tape used for drywalling (it has tiny holes in it, I don't know what it's called exactly), and wrote in the we gesso "Your my all and all" (and I just realized that's poor grammer.... crap). The words I left visible  "Belief, Believer, and Holy Spirit"

This next one may or may not be competed? I'm not exactly sure... but the words that I left unpainted are: "Trustworthy and relationship"

The last two pages that I started are not finished :o(
But I think they look pretty good so far! These two pages are actually in the book where as the last 3 I actually cut/ripped out of the book.
The words that are in these two pages are: "Purpose, Jesus, love, and happy" on page 1st

Then on the 2nd page: "Promising, determination, powerful, and Hallelujah."

What I found very interesting was the fact that the word that I got for this retreat was "Purpose." I have a feeling that I'm suppose to get back to my painting?

Oh I want too.... so badly. But the time right now that I do have... or not is completely soaked up by work, school, and homework. Speaking of which I have two pages to write for my MTH 116 A class group data analysis by tomorrow night (need to be DONE.... ready to merge with my groups corresponding 4 pages). BLAH.... ARGH.... freaking out a bit.... BLAH.....

I haven't felt centered, relaxed, able to totally be one with the Father for a while!!! I SO NEEDED THESE PAST TWO DAYS!!!! That word "Purpose" to me means that I am where I am suppose to be. That God has a devine purpose for this specific time in my life. And all the aggravation that I deal with pertaining to my course work, scheduling test times with both ODR and my job, tutoring (for SPN 101), meeting up with Butler Co. Disability Services (to see about help with costs of school), and an entire variety of other things; it all has meaning. I need to slow down and savor each step, test, discussion (with any one about anything), and take in every little thing (Color, tone (musical or not), emotion, experience).

Cardiomyopathy and Saddle Thrombus?

This is my child, Jeremiah Lee. I adopted him in August of 2003. He was born June 24, 2003. AMAZING cat!!! Really seriously great friend to me throughout the years. He knows how to read me very well! He has this sense that he knows my moods, you know happy and sad.

July 19, 2012 I came home from work to find him laying on the floor in the hall, infront of the bathroom. I called out his name. Jeremiah looked up at me and started to attempt to get up and come to me (like he normally does), but he couldn't. I went to him and stood him up on all fours and he fell to the left side. Not able to stand at all.

I immediately called Banfield (with only a matter of minutes left till they closed). They referred me to call Grady 24hr Emergency Vet. I took him there right away. The woman behind the counter took Jeremiah from my arms and straight to the back. About 45 minutes later the Vet came into the little room that they put us in to talk about him. She had many theories of what could have happened. The main thing that she highly suspected is that he threw a clot in his spine. For another word he suffered from a stroke in his back. She assured me that this wasn't a progression of symptoms, and that he suffered from this while I was at work that day. They wanted to keep him for a total of 48 hours, but they only kept him for 24 hours.  They kept him on IV's and started steroids and baby aspirin.

When I picked him up he was just looking amazing!! Stinky, but amazing!!!

He did SOOOOO good after that frightful Thursday!!! When he got home Friday night he walked around the house to make sure everything looked the same.

That's how he was up until I left to house sit for my cousin, at least as far as I know up till yesterday/this morning.

I was on my way to the Cincinnati Vineyard Community Church to do the Good Sam Run Outreach when I get a phone call from my dad, about Jeremiah. Having an episode like he had last month. I was on 747, headed into Springdale when I got dad's call. I immediately turned down Port Union Road to shoot up By Pass 4 then home.

The vet was looking at him for a few minutes in the back (I watched while he did this with a door between us). He came in and suggested that he "may have a Hyperthyroid" I stopped him mid-sentence and said that the blood results came back and said he didn't have that. He looked at me and pretty much said "How do you know" kind of expression on his face. I then got my cell phone out and played him the message that Dr Hardig left me regarding his results.

He excused himself so that he can throughly review Jeremiah's medical records to know a better approach to treating his condition. When he came back in his said that his blood work up was really good. And just in looking at that one wouldn't think anything is wrong with him.

He asked me if anyone has taken pictures of his chest, I told him no. Then he started talking about the possibility of Jeremiah having something wrong with his heart. I internally started to freak out. When he sent his vet tech in to talk about the cost of the x-ray, and told me that they would cost me $140's. I knew/know I didn't have the money for it. So I called my dad.

Dad and I had a talk... that I needed to be prepared to make an important decision for Jeremiah here, maybe, soon. By then I was nothing but tears. I need to think about his quality of life from here on out. Thinking and praying hard. I stick my head out the door that went back to where they kept the pets and did all their work with them, to ask the doctor to come in and talk to him more about Jeremiah's quality of life. I'm still crying, and trying to hold it together to have a, some what, civilized conversation with this vet. He told me that he couldn't give me a defiant answer with out the x-rays.

About a hour later they called me and told me that the x-rays were in and that the vet would like to speak to me. When I got back to Banfield the vet asked me to step back in the back to see both slides next to each other. He told me that it was just as he suspected with his heart. He has cardiomyopathy with saddle thrombus. He wants to keep him on his aspirin and Prednisone schedule. But he also wanted to add in there another drug; Enalapril. So he's on those three now, plus Amoxicillin and eye drops.

But that wasn't all. His G.I. system is backed up, as well it showed his bladder was full. The vet said that when the tech put the litter box in the cage with him he went to the bathroom. What concerned him was that his BM was so dark (like dark chocolate- dark). He said that it could mean that he's digesting blood, meaning he may have tumor in his large intestine. So he put Jeremiah on a laxatone gel that you can put on a cat's foot,  on their nose, or in their food. I'm going to put it in his food. To help get things moving easier for him.

While we were in the little clinic room, Jeremiah was walking around the room. Stiff legged, but walking around. He wasn't doing that when I picked him up from my dad's. Before Jeremiah and I left the vet went ahead and gave him his med's (the one that I had there with me, and the Enalapril). When I got him home he received the rest of his drugs (but they aren't the "happy kind"). The vet wanted to call me tomorrow (or today since now it's the 11th) and see how he's doing. But I won't be hom until later on. So I told them that I would call them on Monday about how Jeremiah is doing.

Needless to say that I didn't make it to the Good Sam Run today. But that's okay. I did however drive over 140 miles in all from 9 AM to about 7 PM. That would be going from my cousin's house (or in the vicinity of their house) to my dad's house, to get Jeremiah, then back to the Bridgewater Falls area, to the vet. Then from the vet's back to my dad's, because he helped me out with the cost of the x-rays. Then back to the Vet to get Jeremiah, and take him back to dad's house. Then I went to Wal-mart in Oxford to get a kitty litter box that had a top to it, then back to dad's house. To drive back to my cousin's place to feed her babies. Then I went to the Cincinnati Vineyard's celebration service tonight, then back to the house. I didn't want to go, but I did.

I called Stephanie to see how he was doing. She called me back. He's pretty much acting like he did this morning. I wish I was there with him!! I'll be home tomorrow.... I just hope he's doing better!!!

One world order = End times coming VERY SOON

Ok, so I didn't write this post. My friend Dan Stange wrote it as his status update yesterday, about Obama care:


"So I'm going to get up on a soapbox here. I highly recommend you at least read through this whether you agree with me or not. 

Having intelligent thoughts and/or conversation is always welcome.

I am going to preface this by saying a couple of things. First off, I am a healthcare provider, so I see a lot of things first hand. From health care costs, health insurance premium costs, to both proper and improper use of the Medicaid system. I also know what it is like to be unemployed for a year while looking for work.

I do not know who all has been keeping track, but one of the provisions of the Healthcare act, otherwise known as Obamacare is to require every single american to HAVE to carry health insurance. That may not sound like a terrible thing at first glance, but let us consider the facts.

The supreme court has ruled on this clause in the act. They have two choices:
Find the mandate unconstitutional
Say it IS constitutional, and counts as a 'Tax'. The only way it is constitutionally supported to force people to pay anything to the government is by calling it a tax.

The supreme court ruled that it counts as a Tax.

So now we're left with choices, either we take insurance through our work IF we have a job, you find your own insurance plan and pay for it out of pocket (an extra bill), or you are REQUIRED to pay the government for their healthcare plan (an extra bill).

So worst case scenario, Obamacare is unconstitutional.
Best case scenario, it is in fact a tax. As a tax, it is going to flat out be the MOST expensive tax in the country outside of income tax and property tax. 

What many people don't realize is that while it costs an individual about $150 a month to take insurance through a place they work, their workplace is paying for the majority of that healthcare coverage. In fact, if the workplace were not paying their share of your health benefits, it would cost anywhere from $300 to $600 per month to pay for the entire thing yourself, and that is a conservative estimate.

Let's say you have a person that does not work, but they have too much pride to take the 'free handout' of a Medicaid program. They are getting by doing odd jobs and making money on the side because they do not have a lot of bills.
Along comes Obamacare, and this person HAS to take an insurance plan. They may have been looking for a steady job for a year now with no luck, so work insurance is not an option. They cannot afford to pay the rate if they have no workplace paying a share of the healthcare. Their options now are pay this so-called tax and not have any money for themselves, or sign up for the Medicaid program they do not want.

But wait,
People argue that this is acceptable, like 'car insurance being required'. 
These things are not the same. Car insurance is required so that some jackass doesn't hit you in his car and stick you with the bill because he cannot pay you back. It is liability only that is required, not full coverage. Your healthcare is in your own hands.

If you choose to take the risk of not fully insuring your car against accidents that are your fault, that is acceptable. You have that choice.

If you choose to take the risk of not insuring your healthcare, while not necessarily the best idea, this will no longer be an option. Your healthcare is much more similar to full coverage than to liability, as your actions directly affect your risk of needing that service, and they should both be optional.

So let's look at the implications of this mandate. First off, they're requiring you to take a service you may have no interest in paying for.

Secondly, this will actually put an undue burden on people that lack jobs and/or money in an already struggling economy. 

Here are some hypothetical situations just to get people thinking about the ramifications of this act.

Situation one, a person loses their job for a year. (NOT impossible in this day and age) What if they cannot afford to pay for health insurance, and decide instead to be extra healthy and careful not to be injured while they are out of work.

Along comes Obamacare, and now this person is REQUIRED to pay for a health insurance service they do not want. They planned on being careful and staying healthy, now they have a bill for an extra couple hundred dollars a month. This now puts an extra burden on the individual.

Situation two, a person does have a job, but it does not offer benefits and does not pay well. They took a crap job in a bad economy to pay their bills.
This person does not take out a health insurance plan either because their job's plan is too expensive, and on their low income they cannot afford to take that much money out of their check each month. 

Along comes Obamacare. This person who was just getting by now HAS to take health insurance. They now can no longer afford their bills. They are left with two options now: Keep working and not be able to afford this additional bill and possibly lose their home, or stop working and apply for Medicaid and get to keep their home. The easier choice is obvious. I know not everyone is in a marginal situation such as this, but just watch, our tax payer dollars will be spent even more to support the Medicaid system, because if your choices are work and pay this extra bill you cannot afford, or don't work and have the state pay your bills, it's an easy choice, but not one that helps the rest of the taxpayers. But who can blame them? The government is essentially backing EVERYONE into a corner with this act.

So remember, 
Best case scenario is that this is a very high tax on any people that are not working, not making enough money and want to opt out of paying for healthcare, or an additional tax on people single people that cannot find a job. This will shift more and more people onto the Medicaid state systems and foodstamps simply out of lack of choice.

So Best case is Obamacare is increasing taxes by a substantial amount.

Worst case scenario, Obamacare is taking away our rights as Americans and is just flat out unconstitutional.

Say what you will, un-friend me if you must, but I say to you this:

It is unethical, and un-american to require people to take a service they have to pay for against their will. 

Romney has vowed to repeal Obamacare if elected. 
Republicans need only 4/12 open seats in Congress this year to get a majority, and they want to repeal this act as well.

A vote for ANYONE that is not Obama in 2012 is either a vote to protect our constitutional rights, or a vote to avoid unduly high taxation. 

Either way, I urge people to avoid paying this additional tax, and keep our rights from being taken away 1 step at a time.

Vote for anyone but Obama in 2012. Sure he's charismatic, but from all reports I've heard so were a lot of leaders in history that are now deemed terrible.

I am not asking you to become republican. I am simply asking you to take a step back and look at the situation objectively, and evaluate who is going to protect our liberties the most come election day.

I know who has already shown they want to take away our liberties.
I know how I will vote this year."

I really feel like this is more signs of "end times." People in politics have already started talking about changing our currency to the uro. Now health care? For the low income people who are single, have families, single and have children forcing them to pay for this is like saying, "Maybe suicide is the better option?" 

My spirit is saying that this is what it is.... Some say that this could start a revolution... I just say God may be sending his Son sooner than some of us may think. I know what will happen to me when the rapture happens, I'm gonna see my Jesus. What will happen to you?

Forgotten Letter

Okay so last fall.... early winter I wrote (yes, pen and paper) a letter to the lead singer of the Contemporary Christian Group; Addison Road, Jenny Simmons. My letter was about how the song, What do I know of Holy? challenged me as a christian, a single woman, and inspired me to keep on keeping on with where I am at right now in this journey called "life." Not to mention my letter was like 3 pages long (one sided).

TOTALLY forgot about the letter!!!!

Today with my thoughts completely submerged in my finals, if I'm going to pass with a "B" or a "C" in my ENG 336 class, the looming last final of the year this Saturday at 12:20 my brain was seriously spinning at a pace that no stress level should ever reach. When I got home this evening I walked to the mail box to get our mail (duh), opened the box to see a little pink envelope sitting on top of like 3 other articles of mail. And it was addressed to myself. I LOVE getting mail, especially if it's not a bill!!! As I'm sure all of you enjoy it too!! I look at the return address and it said it came from Irving, TX. My first thought was that it was from Premier Designs' home office, or prayer minister's of the business. But to my delight it wasn't (not that getting a card or something nice from them isn't a delight... b/c it is).

This card, with a hand written letter inside, was from Jenny Simmons. It's funny how God's timing works out sometime, and in the same way it is completely perfect!!!

She opens up her letter with the fact that her family and her are in the process of moving to Nashville, TN and as they were packing and moving some furniture when she found my letter, unopened. So she apologized that it was miss placed. She spoke about how when you are 30 one get a sense of "settled-ness" that comes with this age. Not so much in the "plans" but in the sense that - who you are starts to grow roots and flourish and all of the sudden we get it and can say, "Oh- so that is how God created me." Settling into yourself - In my case; even in the midst of going back to school, working, etc. She goes on to say/state that it is perhaps what has allowed me to finally embrace the voice & art that God had put inside of me.

Jenny goes on to quote her father, "God will not call you to something only once, but will whisper... sometimes scream it to you time and time again." She goes on to tell me that it seemed that He keeps drawing me back to be the one who captures and creates beauty. As artists we are called to express beauty, expose truth, and question everything in between.

"I wonder what hand questions God will face people with through YOUR ART?" She goes on to encourage me, "Stay faithful and be courageous."

Like I said I needed this today.

Yey God!!!! I love you Abba!!!!