National Auto Insurance with every Gallon of Gas

What if you paid for Auto Insurance with every gallon of fuel that you bought--a pay-as-you-go/pay-as-you-use system. We would immediately eliminate every uninsured and under insured driver on the road.

The average annual miles driven is someplace between 12 - 15,000. What if you only drove 5,000 and you paid insurance only on the miles driven?

Here is my suggestion: Insurance tax on a per gallon of gas, bio-diesel, diesel or propane. I'm not sure how it would work for Electric or Solar but we have a few years to figure that one out. What happens when you buy a gallon of gas is you are also buying insurance for that amount of driving. If you drive a high MPG car then you get more bang for your buck. If you drive a gas sucking SUV then you'll pay more based on the fact that it will take you more gallons of gas to drive the same distance. If you drive 5,000 miles a year then you'll pay for 5,000 miles of insurance -- if you drive 50,000 miles a year then you'll pay for 50,000.

A driver who spends 8 hours a day on the road should pay more of the cost of insurance than a mom or dad who simply run to the store and to drop-off or pickup kids from a music lesson.

Just a thought.

You have been given a voice, use it. Go out and SCREAM! about something you care about.

Auto Insurance, Politics, Society

Lessons from the Dying

I've wondered over the past few days just exactly what I would do with Wednesday's post. What I came up with was--Nothing. Why? I usually have a lot to say, some say I have too much to say, I have nothing... but I will offer the following observations for my Wednesday post.

I have spent the past 6 years watching my in-laws die. I would spend my time visiting my Father-in-law when he lived in the Assisted Living home; using that time to help him with the "this and thats" of every day life. Time to sort his Medicines. Time to take him shopping or go over the weeks menu selections. Time to watch a Suns Basketball game on the Television (that's when he would "SCREAM at the TV!").

As he aged and his body and mind became weaker my time was spent there with him. I was there to help him through the transition from Assisted Living to the Nursing Home, and then I found that I couldn't find the time as easily. I found that I wasn't comfortable being there with him. It was if we had transferred him to die and I struggled internally with this thought. I had spent time visiting my Mother in-law at the same Nursing Home for a year or more prior to Pop's arrival and it never bothered me, but to watch such a fiercely independent man arrive at a place where he became dependent upon everyone for everything was heartbreaking. I know it wasn't so much the the home itself but the realization that my buddy would be moving on it was just a matter of time.

This week the journey of watching and spending my time ended. My Father in-law passed two years ago on Christmas Eve. My Mother in-law passed on the 9th this month. Both of my In-Laws were in their 80's when they passed. Immigrant Americans from Germany. They came over in the early 50's by boat and traveled from New York to Arizona by car as soon as they arrived.

They lived a full and vibrant life. They have been through, seen, and done things that most can never imagine.

So what have I learned on my watch? I'm glad I gave my time, other than that I wish I knew. I can tell you that the health care system needs fixing. I can tell you that some of the best and most caring people in the world work in the elder-care industry. I can tell you that Arizona, lacks greatly when it comes to caring for the elderly. I wish I could tell you more. I'm certain that the dying have lessons for all of us to learn.

I think they are lessons we see more clearly after time has passed on.

Schlaf gut, Omi



You have been given the ability to listen - do it. Go out and sit and listen to someone you care about.

Assisted Living, Nursing Home, Arizona Elderly Care, Elderly Care, Health Care, Society

Petition for Darfur

As we draw nearer to President Obama's inauguration day it becomes more and more important that we push to keep the issue of Darfur in front of him. Take a moment and sign the petition and add your voice today.

Time Marches Forward... and the Headlines Keep Coming

December 7, 2008 (NYALA) — Militiamen attacked a camp of displaced in a remote area of Darfur near the border with Chad, a displaced persons’ spokesperson said today, adding that four were seriously injured.

December 6, 2008 (EL-FASHER) — The government backed janjaweed militia killed a local chief at Hassa Hissa camp, near Zanlingei in West Darfur state where a militiaman dead last week following a quarrel with residents from the camps.

Musa Abakr Posh was killed on Saturday in his house inside the camp, his son Al-Fadil told Sudan Tribune. He further said they had fears for the safety of his father because he was targeted by the pro-government militia.

source: Sudan Tribune

You have been given a voice, use it. Go out and SCREAM! about something you care about - SCREAM for those who's voice has been silenced.

Politics, Humanitarian, Society

Speeding Through The School Zone

My recent post on Photo-radar in the valley has me thinking that the state is misusing the technology and equipment that they have available. Not misusing in the sense that there shouldn't be photo-radar, if the result is drivers slow down to somewhere near the posted speed and it reduces accidents then so-be-it.

I'm thinking that it is being misused through incorrect placement--why not use it in school zones? I live a block away from a school zone that is placed on a very busy road. The posted speed limit during non-school hours is 45mph, the average speed I would bet is 55 or 60mph.

When the lights are flashing in the school zones drivers are required to slow to 35mph. I would bet that nearly 80% don't. I would also venture to say that the average speed doesn't change very much from when the lights aren't flashing.

We've taken security at school to all new levels from the time I was attending. Now our schools are fenced, gated and many are policed. All for the safety and security of the student body. Why don't we take the next step and protect the kids on their way to school? Put photo-radar up in every school zone that is intersected by a road with a posted speed limit of greater than 35mph. Costly, sure--but based on the habits of drivers on the freeway I would suggest that it will pay for itself in short order.

The cost for speeding and getting caught by photo-radar is $180.00. Why not make it double that if your picture is snapped exceeding the school zone speed limit of 35?

Just a thought.

You have been given a voice, use it. Go out and SCREAM! about something you care about.

photo-radar, school zone, speed limits, kids safety, Society