Can Real Estate be “Uber’d”

Uber is an economic disruptor.  It’s a company that changed things so fast – so dramatically – affecting so many people both personally and professionally – that businesses now refer to getting “Uber’d” when they talk about disruptive technologies and change in their industry.  The internet did to travel services what Uber has done to the taxi industry.  With the entrance of a new application or technology, industry can change on a dime.  Real estate agents throughout the country talk of new technologies, and there is no shortage of predictions the next “new” application around the corner will “Uber” real estate.  Should we fear this?  Embrace this? Ignore this?

If you know what Uber is, skip to the next paragraph.  Uber is a company that developed an App (Application) which allows any Mom or Pop to subscribe to the App, and make themselves available for a fee to transport people in need of a ride using their own automobile.  Consumers simply download the App to their phone, put in a credit card, and open the App to schedule a pick up and destination.  Any available Mom, Pop, or college student with a car in the area can take the opportunity as a service provider.  The process is all handled by smart phone and credit card.  No operator.  No phone call.  Simply schedule the car, a price is quoted, and the car shows up.  Uber gets their share and the driver gets their share.  Simple.  Ingenious.  Trans-formative.

So how does an App like Uber transform the real estate industry?   The problem (some may say advantage) with real estate is very simple –  it is a dysfunctional industry.  Each state has its own license requirements.  Each state has its own laws for the practice of agency.  Each market, both big and small, has their own quirks, competition, and customs.  Commissions are negotiated differently depending on individual market pressures and individual brokerage policies.  Data is delivered by multiple software environments, with different quality controls, and different ownership philosophies (and personal agendas).  Contract obligations, disclosure laws, title conveyance – all are driven by traditions that have evolved out of the states founding influences.  Louisiana has laws with French influences, New Mexico has Spanish influenced laws, and Georgia has laws influenced by England.

So, can real estate be “Uber’d” – I think not.  Can small components be “Uber’d” – I think YES.  Across the United States and beyond, inventors (programmers) are tinkering in their garages or basements trying to find the next Uber for some small component of the real estate industry.  These minor changes will make the industry better for both the consumer and the providers.  But will it be trans-formative, industry changing, simple, and cheap like Uber?  I say no way.  Real estate is too dysfunctional.  And I’m not sure that’s a bad thing.

I’d love to hear your comments below!

Sticker Shock!

This is about health insurance – but believe me – it will effect real estate.  Read on…

3 years ago, I was a registered nurse working at a hospital receiving employer provided health insurance.  This insurance for my wife and four children cost $800 pre-tax, with $400 deducted from my bi-weekly paycheck.  Our deductible was $1,000 individually, and $2,500 for the family.  Collectively, my direct health care coverage cost $9,600 in premiums, with a potential to cost $12,100 if one or more of my family incurred hospital costs.  These figures do not include copays for office visits, vision, or dental costs, nor prescriptions.

Fast forward 3 years.  I am no longer at the hospital, and purchase my insurance directly in the market place as an individual.  With our newest bill from our insurance provider, we now pay $2,050 per month, and have a “per person” deductible of $3,800, and a group deductible of $7,600.  Again this does not include the other incidentals of copays, etc.   My direct costs are now $24,600 per year.  If anyone in my family incurs hospital costs, my health care tab is now a cool $32,200.  This is not a typo.  My health care costs have gone up 266% since the implementation of the “Affordable Care Act”.

There is one saving grace.  Neither my wife, myself, nor my two sons have a uterus, yet we all have prenatal and obstetric care.  Hallelujah!  In addition, we have opted out of vision care, as the hassle factor of trying to utilize it is not worth the money we pay for it.

Health care is now the single largest line item in our family budget.  It exceeds our mortgage payment (which includes taxes and insurance).  It exceeds out transportation costs and other insurance costs.

This is where the rubber meets the road.  Gallup says 44% of Americans get their insurance through their employer.  To 44% of you out there, you have been deliberately insulated from these rising costs by the political class.  This was a conscious decision by your representatives to delay these cost to a majority of Americans until this election year.  Your employers’ mandates have been delayed, and your insurance, although most likely higher than 3 years ago are getting ready to go through the roof as mine have.

I have no use for platitudes, generalities, or straw men.  This is not affordable.  There are solutions to this.  Government has created this problem.  It is not the Government that can fix this problem.

So how does this impact real estate?  As we move forward into the morass of “affordable health care” and all the surprises awaiting us, health care costs will take a primary seat at the table.  No longer will the mortgage be the single largest line item in a family’s budget – that seat of honor is now reserved for health care.  As we push around the nuts in our family budgets, the health care dollars have to come from somewhere – and my guess is those dollars will come from what was once reserved for housing.

The Wild, Wild, West of Real Estate?

Never let it be said I am a proponent of government regulations.  I am not.  I am someone who plays by the rules and believe the rules have their place.  I believe in a robust and healthy competition, and marvel at the creativity Realtors employ in their businesses.  That said, let me get to my point.

The internet has revolutionized our industry.  Beginning with home grown text based websites maintained by individuals and exploding into the sophisticated network we have today, the regulatory bodies of our industry have struggled to keep up with the rapidly changing landscape.

The sole purpose for the creation of the regulatory agencies, and even the National Association of Realtors, was to protect the consumer and each other from sophisticated players.  The big players of the real estate internet space – Zillow, Trulia, Homes.com, Craigslist, Hotpads, Rent.com – all create venues where the consumer is getting harmed, and sophisticated players are taking advantage of the consumers lack of understanding.

A few examples:

• Rental fraud is rampant on Craigslist, Hotpads, and other internet sites.  Scammers copy listing information from legitimate websites, create profiles on these sites, advertise the rental as available, take peoples money, and sign bogus leases.  (my brokerages clients have been scammed in this way)
• Websites like Trulia and Zillow scour information from public sources and collate the data into compact presentations such as the “Zestimate”, and do not inform the consumers of the data sources, the age of the data, nor the reliability.  Data is frequently incorrect, unreliable, and stale.  Correcting the data is akin to dealing with the IRS.  The stock answer from these entities is “I will have to look into that and get back with you”.  There is rarely follow through.
• Websites collate legitimate listings and use those listings without broker authorization, then sell ad space to other real estate agents on the listing presentation pages.  This misleads the consumer and violates the laws in many states (GA in particular).
• Search history, cookies on the users computer, and many other data points are used – without the consumers knowledge – to alter the consumers personal computer experience and therefore alter/limit their choices.  The real estate industry is not alone here.  With the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau  proactively looking out for the consumer, it is a simple matter of time before they put their hands in this “cookie” jar.

I could go on, but I believe the point is clear.  The stock answer when asking key players at these firms about these issues is “We are just an advertising agency”.  They simply throw their collective hands up and say “Golly G, What can WE do”.  Here are a couple suggestions:

• Clearly display the source of information – as clearly as the call to action on the page
• Clearly display the Listing Broker information, as clear and prominent as the call to action
• Make available the Geo-location and valid email address of the modifier on manual entry listings (this can easily be done with IP addresses).
• If the source of a manually entered listing is using a proxy server or hiding their location in any manner, prevent the information from being loaded.
• Proactively manage fraud complaints with case numbers and audit trails and publicly disclose the data
• Create a direct modification of the listing by the owner (broker) of the listing with an audit trail of changes clearly posted on the listing itself (include Geo location of the user and valid email address of the modifier)

The spaces where these industries operate did not exist 10 years ago.  The progression to where we are now has occurred at lightening speed.  Regulators are typically political appointees – gunslingers of the past – no disrespect intended.  They are experts in their own right, but broadly speaking, their understanding of how this whole thing called the internet works is limited.  Consumer protections of the past must be folded into the new realities of today.

There was a time when real estate was unregulated.  High pressure sales induced buyers to purchase swampland in Florida, dual agency and lack of disclosure was the norm, fair housing laws weren’t yet enacted, and the consumer suffered greatly.  Regulatory agencies and licensing laws were created for these very reasons.

It seems we have come full circle where the consumer is now at the mercy of these sophisticated players.  While we are a long way from where we came, the unregulated world of real estate advertising and data mining on the internet has brought us back to the wild west.  There is a new sheriff in town called the CFPB.  If these sophisticated players do not self regulate and the licensing bodies of each state do not create effective protections for consumers on real estate websites, I believe the new sheriff will be knocking on their collective door soon.

The Creature from Wall Street – Part 1

Buying or selling a home will change on August 1st, 2015.  This we know.  How it will change remains a great mystery to most.  There is no shortage of information on this topic to be found on the internet for lenders, title companies, and closing attorneys, but for the mere mortal buyers, sellers, and Realtors, there is precious little information and guidance.  A brief summary follows to get us all on the same page.

Back in 2008, the housing crisis began to unfold, which ushered in the “Great Recession” of 2008 – 2012.  At the time, no one knew just how bad things would get.  Each downward dip on the housing roller coaster brought experts out saying “We have reached the bottom!”, only to be confronted with the next downward dip or death spiral.

Senators Chris Dodd (D) and Barney Frank (D) sponsored a bill entitled ‘The Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act”, now simply referred to as Dodd / Frank.  This bill was passed and signed into law by President Obama in 2010, and began sweeping changes to the machine of Wall Street and consumer credit lending.  To monitor all of this, the bill created a committee known as The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), simply referred to as “the Bureau”.  Concisely stated, the Bureau provides oversight to essentially every consumer transaction that involves credit in the United States.  This includes, but is not limited to… credit cards, payday loans, credit unions, FDIC, banking rules, and home mortgages.

REAL ESTATE
This being a real estate centric blog, we will focus on real estate.  Since 2010, the Bureau has enacted reforms in stages.  They began with changes in mortgage underwriting requirements.  Anyone applying for a loan since 2010 has experienced the exacting standards of underwriting.  The Bureau was behind it all.  Then came the concept of a Qualified Mortgage (QM) and Ability to Repay.  In January of 2014, Debt to Income (DTI) ratios were changed, lowering the maximum DTI to 43% of gross income from as high as 55%.  To be fair, banks can lend to borrowers with higher DTI ratios, but not without opening themselves up to enormous liability down the road.

Dodd / Frank is a consumer focused law.  All changes that have occurred thus far have been leading up to the next big shoe to drop, which is the combination of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) and the Federal Truth In Lending Act (TILA).  All of this is scheduled to happen on August 1st, 2015.

Elizabeth Kubler-Ross identified a psychological model known as the 5 stages of grief in dealing with catastrophe.  Denial is followed by anger, then the bargaining phase begins, soon after followed by depression, and finally acceptance.  No doubt, Lenders and Closing Attorneys have experienced this as they have learned about the changes headed their way on August 1st, 2015.  With mortgage lending, some banks have thrown in the towel, closing attorneys have decided to stop doing closings – some have taken this opportunity as the catalyst for their retirement.  Others have responded by supercharging their technology buys, investing in new software and training, and look upon this as a change for the better.

Aside from the changes the lending and settlement industries, there are some practical issues no one is considering.  So how does all of this affect the buyer, the seller, and the broker?  How will brokers modify their practices?  How should they prepare?  How will the Seller deal with extended closing cycles, possession transfers, and potential delays?   How will the Buyer handle possession delays.  Exactly what are the changes coming on August 1st, and why do those changes necessitate such radical questions?

We will discuss the answers to those questions in Part II,

Zillow Whistleblower Claims Data Stolen

The Scoop:

News reports are now circulating Zillow has been stealing data from Realtor.com and agent websites. In a news article posted by Housingwire.com on April 10th, 2015, a whistle-blower alleges in a letter to Move.com, that Zillow has been scraping data from Realtor.com and agent websites to compare their data with those websites, and using non-Zillow owned data servers to house databases and documents so they cannot be discovered in the Move.com lawsuit against Zillow.

Zillow and Move.com (parent of Listhub and Realtor.com) have been in legal skirmishes since Errol Samuelson, Chief Strategy Officer at Realtor.com left to become the Chief Industry Development Officer of Zillow. National Association of Realtos (NAR) and Move.com sued for breach of contract alleging that Mr. Samuelson’s former position at Move.com was in direct conflict with his new position at Zillow. In July of 2014, Move.com won a ruling supporting that claim.

So What Does All This Mean?

Aside from the news junkies and geeks like me, most folks won’t even know this happened, and won’t understand the profound implications this could have.  For Geeks, this is the equivalent of Bill Gates getting caught taking pictures over the shoulder of Steve Jobs.  It is a crack in the damn that protects Zillow, and if true is confirmatory evidence that Zillow is just another website stealing data from those who create it for their own gain.

In my opinion only, perhaps those MLS’s signing direct feed agreements with Zillow should stop listening to Group Think and take a healthy and skeptical look at the fine print of those agreements.

Some questions to make you go “Hmmm…”

• Will this be a bump in the road on Zillows meteoric rise?
• How will Realtors view Zillows credibility after such allegations?
• Maybe, just maybe – folks will take a second look at Zillow – will they like what they see?

One final thought, and on a separate note – for those of you who have seen Zillows new TV Commercials – am I the only one who’s noticed there are no real estate agents in them?

We have seen the enemy, and he is us…

Recently I had a conversation with a local broker here in Savannah, GA about the pending decision by the local MLS to create a direct feed relationship with Zillow.

This broker is one of the most knowledgeable brokers I know in the industry.  With 40 plus years of experience, he sees things through the prism of history, as he has lived the many reincarnations of the real estate industry.  He is a real estate instructor who is current on the laws.  He is an independent thinker and known to go his own way rather than follow the crowd.  He is a creative mind who sees opportunity 2 years before anyone else does.  He uses email, the web, and other leading technologies, but by today’s standards, he is a computer novice.  He is the “typical” real estate broker when it comes to technology.

And with that I get to my point.  The average real estate agent, depending on what study you read is between 50 and 54.  Just old enough to miss the computer revolution.  They were introduced to computers by video games like Pac Man, Gallaga, and Centipede.  They used the Franklin or Tandy computers and played Pong.  By the time the PC began to evolve into something useful, they had kids, jobs, and no time to toil endlessly trying to install a modem card to get AOL.  They matured in real estate with MLS books, print media, and “old-school” techniques of selling.

Now in the Golden years of their profession, they hold leadership positions on MLS Boards, Realtor Associations, and Regulatory panels.  Somewhere between Pac Man and Smart Phones, real estate marketing evolved from print media to web strategies, and the tech companies saw opportunity.  Tech companies now scrape data from the internet, collate tax data, track search history with cookies, alter user experience based on your clicks, and present themselves as experts when they haven’t stepped foot in your state, let alone your market.

Seeing the opportunity of the disconnect between Brokers who are licensed to sell real estate and their poor understanding of the internet, Tech companies pounced.  They created “advertising” websites, and used the Brokers listings to attract Buyers.  Not being Brokers themselves as they frequently remind us who are, they are immune to the requirements of the law.   The very same laws that were created to protect consumers from sophisticated players who exploit the consumers lack of understanding.

The real estate industry, including trade organizations, associations, MLS’s, and regulatory panels move at a comparative snails pace.  With over 1 million members of the NAR, and over 87,000 licensees in GA alone, over site is complex.  A CEO barking orders to 600 programmers is much more efficient, especially if there is no regulatory over site of what those programmers do.

In GA, the regulatory body of real estate is the Georgia Real Estate Commission.  It is composed of 6 commissioners, appointed by the Governor.  They are very accomplished people in many aspects.  Not one of them is a Tech CEO.  Not one of them, I presume, has ever configured a RETS interface.  However, they must understand the intricacies of the internet, and formulate rules and regulations to protect the consumer.  In May of 2014, the GA Real Estate Commission changed the advertising rules in an attempt to provide more encompassing rules governing the use of the internet for brokers.  They made these changes in 2.0.1.4.

Since May of 2014, Zillow has merged with Trulia, Rupert Murdoch is the owner of Move.com, parent of ListHub and Realtor.com, MLS’s have signed direct feeds with the Zillow Group, as of TODAY ListHub no longer feeds the Zillow group, just to name a few developments since the new rule change.  Essentially, these rules are fast becoming outdated, if not obsolete and it has been 12 months since adopted.

Back to my conversation with the local broker.  Once we began talking about the internet and how the new rules are not being followed by the industry – especially the Zillow Group, his eyes began to glaze.  He didn’t understand cookies, RETS feeds, or altered user experiences.  He surmised the members of the Real Estate Commission probably didn’t understand these things either.  Computers are funny things.  You can do anything you want – it is just a question of time, money, and the will to change something.

I have personally sat through a Zillow Group pitch to an MLS.  I was astonished at the half truths, subtle misdirection’s, statements like “that is a glitch and we will fix it immediately”, “Oh…we can’t change that on the page”, and of course “we are an advertising company only”.  I have personally seen the direct feed agreements.  If my buyer or seller were given a contract with as many loopholes favoring the other party and I encouraged them to sign it, I would be deservedly sued for negligence.

Some questions I have for the “advertisers only”…
> My laws say our brokerage must be displayed prominently, is the bottom of the webpage prominent?  If so, shouldn’t the agents be there too?
>My seller doesn’t want a Zestimate under their listing, can it be removed?
>My seller doesn’t want 3rd party comments on the page, can you take that link out?
>I do not authorize other agents to appear on my listings, can they be removed?

The answer to all of the above is a resounding “YES”…but…

The Zillow Group can change ANYTHING on their webpages.  Any web company can change anything on their web pages.  They need to do nothing more than bark an order at a programmer and it is done.  Simple.  As an industry, we are way behind the eight ball.  We must learn the rules of engagement.  If we don’t, we have no one to blame but ourselves.

I have seen the enemy and he is us…

Zillow and Rupert Murdoch Divorce – Who Gets the Kids?

It’s already become cliché to say Trulia and Zillow are divorcing Listhub. So what happens to the kids? Read on…

With ListHub and Trulia-Zillow’s intentions to go their separate ways as of April 7th of this year, the pencil neck Geeks are suddenly popular again.  They’re emerging from their caves into the sunlight.  Not just to get more Mountain Dew and pizza pockets, but to answer questions from mere mortals like me.   People used to run from them.   Geeks are once again in vogue and we are actually listening this time.

I asked my Geek to explain this stuff to me.  “This time”, I begged, “talk to be like I’m a moron.  I mean really, talk to me like I’m a moron – I don’t get this stuff.”  Surprisingly… he agreed.

Here is what he said.  “There is this thing called the MLS.  The MLS is were morons like you put your listings.  ListHub is that magic box that sends your listings to the internet.  ListHub and Trillow (he called them Trillow – Geekspeak for Trulia and Zillow) have an agreement.  ListHub has agreed to send listings to Trillow since 2011.”

He continued…  “Funny thing about that agreement is ListHub is owned by Move.com, which also owns Realtor.com.   Rupert Murdoch (Mr. FoxNews) bought Move.com.  He owns ListHub and Realtor.com now.  Well, Trillow clobbered Realtor.com in market share over the last 4 years.  Mr. FoxNews thinks he is aiding and abetting his competition by staying married to Trillow, so he is getting a divorce.  It appears you morons can’t figure this internet thing out fast enough, so he is doing it for you.”

I asked my Geek what this meant for me, and he explained the following…

“The Trillow folks aren’t brokers.  They’re whiz-bang marketers.  And they have taken you brokers to the cleaners.  They have made such whiz-bang websites that buyers go to them now – not to Realtor.com, and especially not to your puny local websites.  You morons haven’t kept up.  Your websites suck.  1 year on the internet is like 7 years in real life.  So when I say your websites suck, I’m saying they are horse and buggy in a NASCAR race.  You morons fell asleep at the wheel and your like Rip Van Winkle waking up now!”

I asked him, “So now what?”

The Geek answered, “I’m not sure who is divorcing who, but get ready for a HUGE custody battle.  Trillow wants your listings.  Rupert Murdoch wants your listings.  If you’re a broker, then you know it’s YOUR responsibility to work with your seller.  It is YOUR responsibility to decide where your sellers listing goes.  For some reason, the MLS’s out there now think it’s THEIR job.  Its not.  I mean, before the internet – did the MLS tell you broker morons what newspapers to advertise in? Fat Chance!  So now you brokers need to sharpen your pencils and figure this stuff out.”

He continued, “To start with, you need to fix your websites.  You have no one to blame for boring, slow, antique websites but yourselves.  You need to understand what Trillow does with your listings, and how they are taking you to the cleaners.  Let me put it this way… Trillow gets your listing because you GIVE it to them.  They look at your listing as a billboard.  After they get your listing for FREE, they tell you if you want your name on it – you gotta pay a fee.  If you don’t, then they sell your name space to the highest bidder by zip code.  Presto – you have been taken to the cleaners.  They got your listing for free, you either pay them to get your name on it, or they sell the space to another broker!  In the internet world – we geeks call that a Stupid tax!”

I must have looked a little green and glossy eyed to the Geek.  He immediately stopped talking, started mumbling something about Project Upstream, Big Brokers,  and “stupid commingling rules”, and stormed off.

The quickest way to a Geeks heart is with Mountain Dew and pizza pockets – so I am off to the store.  Hopefully I can lure the Geek out of the cave by bearing gifts – cause I gotta know where this is going.

Hopefully we will talk soon.

 

 

“Down Payments Fall to 3%” says Fannie and Freddie

Not so fast…  This past week, Fannie and Freddie, the secondary mortgage market behemoths, announced lower down payment requirements as low as 3% of the appraised value of a home.  This is intended to “jump start” the housing industry.

Without getting to inside baseball, here is a quick background on where we are.  In January of this year,sweeping rules went into effect as a result of the Dodd Frank bill. Among several changes, the Qualified Mortgage mandate was implemented, and a 43% ceiling on  debt to income went into effect.  Predictably, these requirements chilled the housing recovery that was underway by making credit standards more strict, and scaring banks from risks.  In order for a borrower to get financing, they now must meet much more strict guidelines for “creditworthiness” and their ability to repay a loan.

In an attempt to kick the housing market out of its slumber and increase home ownership, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac announced on Monday they will begin purchasing loans with down payments as low as 3%.  On the surface this sounds great!  I, for one am cautiously optimistic at best.

First, anything that allows borrowers to get mortgages with less “skin in the game” immediately makes me lean forward.   Little or no skin in the game was a major stimulant to the great recession and the housing bust.

Second, down payment is not the major burden buyers face.  FHA allows a 3.5% down payment, and VA allows 100% financing already.  So Tom… what IS the major problem?

Aside from ballooning student debt, anemic economy, flat wages, and underemployment, the major issue is the 43% Debt to Income ratio buyers are now held to.   By the time the buyer piles on mortgage insurance fees, HOA fees, hazard insurance, and taxes along with principle and interest payments to their monthly payments, the monthly payment devoted to housing has ballooned so high many buyers cannot get under the 43% imposed ceiling.

In my opinion, until the FHA reduces Mortgage Insurance Premiums, flood insurance is figured out, and the debt to income ratio is loosened up, buyers will be sitting on the fence no matter how low the down payments go.

At the very least, the big boys and girls are doing something to improve things, so Kudos to Fannie and Freddie!

Hat tip to http://absolutelymemorial.com for the photo

The Congressional Early Retirement and Affordable Pension Act

Courtesy of Sodahead.com

Tired of your congressmen or senator? Urge them to pass this bill! BUT – we have to pass it first  – THEN – we will find out what’s in it!

For all of you stupid voters out there who need this spelled out, please read on…

But Why?
Legislators are elected to pass laws, they are not elected to pass laws that legislate. (someone really smart said that, but I’m just a stupid voter, to dumb to know who – don’t I get a pass?). Case in point: The CFPB, an appointed body created by Dodd / Frank, has the unrestrained power to enact laws and spend money.   Obamacare creates a multitude of bureaucratic panels, all of which are  “outside judicial review” – which means they make decisions that are supposed to be made by legislators, and then those decisions cannot be challenged…What? Aren’t elected officials supposed to do that? Where are the checks and balances?

This is all done by legislators – spineless creatures who pass the buck to appointees, then say “it’s the bureaucracies that did it, its not MY fault!”  Convenient.

Enter the Congressional Early Retirement and Affordable Pension Act.  This act, once passed, will help us knuckle dragging voters who can’t understand the law handle things for us!

For all of you simpletons, here is an explanation of the details dumbed down so even YOU can understand it:

• It has only 23,425 pages.  (I read each page…really)
• It calls for over 100,000 rules to be created AFTER passing
• It will save 1 milli… 1 billi… 1 TRILLION dollars (CBO verified!)
• It is outside of judicial AND legislator “review” and repeal

Here is what it does:

• If a politician violates the law (even a traffic ticket)
• If a politician promises while campaigning, and fails to deliver once elected
• If a politician lies in office – verified only by his election opponent
• THEN – all votes cast in favor of him in the election immediately are awarded to his opponent – he/she is immediately removed from office and their opponent is sworn in
• Once removed, all pensions are forfeited, and all pay must be returned
• If the defrocked politician works for a lobbyist, his salary will be taxed at the “Cadillac” rate of 110%

I urge you to contact your congressman or senator, and demand he/she vote in favor of this law.  If he doesn’t, then he is guilty of:  torturing puppies, racism, unwilling to save 1 TRILLION dollars, lying like a no-legged dog, a war on women, withholding birth control, throwing momma from the train, depriving future generations of children their lunch money, and supporting DEATH panels.

But TOM – What’s in it for ME???  Well fellow knuckle dragger, here is what WE get:

• Free phones
• Free WiFi
• Free iTunes account
• Free food
• Free health insurance
• Free birth control
• Free housing
• Free retirement
• A job where all you do is “get paid” a living wage

Come on folks – what are you waiting for?  Start Calling Today!

Ebola…

Twenty four years of health care and a well traveled past within and outside of our country have taught me many things about people. Everyone wants a better life for our children, to be rewarded for our efforts, we love those around us, and we want our loved ones to be safe and healthy. People are people, and although our daily priorities may be different, we all share the common bonds of the human condition.

America remains the greatest country in the world. We have much to be thankful for – especially our health care system and standard of living. Mr. Duncan, the first to die in our country from Ebola, helped his neighbor’s dying daughter get medical attention. In doing so he exposed himself to Ebola. There are many questions surrounding his trek to our shores, but he did what any of us would do. He boarded a plane bound for America. To most of the world, America remains that shining city on a hill. Our country the greatest hope for the world afflicted with Ebola. The best chance anyone with Ebola has to survive is to get here – to our shores, and to our health care system.

So I ask you – If you, your child, wife, or parent were infected with Ebola and you had means, what would you do? Would you lie on a questionnaire? Would you travel by plane? Train? Automobile? Foot? Wouldn’t you do anything to get yourself or your family here?

My guess is you would, and you are not alone.