lance cashion: remote control

Entitlements: Can America avoid bondage?

Read the statement below

“A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world's greatest civilizations has been 200 years.

Great nations rise and fall. The people go from bondage to spiritual truth, to great courage, from courage to liberty, from liberty to abundance, from abundance to selfishness, from selfishness to complacency, from complacency to apathy, from apathy to dependence, from dependence back again to bondage”. -Alexander Tytler

I submit that the American voters must elect representatives who will dismantle the huge, unsustainable entitlement programs that have entrenched themselves.

This is not a Macro-movement. It begins in American homes around the country. It begins with a decision to aggressively engage the American election process. This is a modern American Revolution.

What are you waiting for?

Thanks

Lance

Buy a Bumper Sticker

Learning Perseverance from a Toddler

If we could only persevere like my 17 month old son! Over the last year and seven months, I have become very observant. I've watched this little boy go from the process of not being able to move from one place to his current activity of running through the house.

For several weeks, Nelson (our son) has been attempting to climb the giant leather ottoman in our family room. I've quietly watched him circle the piece of furniture, get a running start and try to somehow force his way on top. I've seen him try to pull himself up, straining with every ounce of strength until the little veins in his head looked like they were going to pop out, only to topple down to the floor. At first, my wife and I were telling him "no" and trying to pursued him into a different activity. (That was a losing battle).

Last week, I saw him hiking one leg up in the air and using the sofa as leverage to climb on top. He fell between the ottoman and the sofa. Needless to say, he was not happy. I was thinking to myself, "That ottoman is to tall for him. He'll eventually make it, but not anytime soon."

Yesterday, I was looking after Nelson in the family room (Kat was out with her mother and sister... leaving us boys at home). He was leaning on the ottoman watching Finding Nemo. I left the room for a moment. When I came back, I saw an amazing event.

I watched and listened as my son grunted and battled his way on to the top of the ottoman. It took him several moments of extreme effort. I quietly sat down on the couch behind him and watched him battle. He reached the summit. He gathered his composure, still huffing and puffing. He steadied himself then turned around, stood up and smiled at me. Mission accomplished!

So often, I find myself wondering about teachable moments for my children. I think to myself that I need to say or do this or that. To my surprise, my toddler provided me with a teachable moment.

If we put in the focus and effort that Nelson used to conquer that ottoman, how would our lives be different?

Imagine your life if doubt did not exist?

There was no doubt in that little boy's mind that he would make it to the top of the ottoman yesterday. He was committed.

He persevered, won and I consider it a lesson.

Thanks Son!

A Lesson in Intimidation Tactics by Kathleen Sebelius

For SHAME!!!!

In the spirit of the 1st Amendment, I submit that the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius is employing Eastern European intimidation tactics (Circa 1938) by issuing an ‘official’ letter to Karen Ignagni (AHIP). Read the letter for yourself and draw your own conclusions. Download Sebelius-Karen-Ignagni

SHAME on YOU Ms. Sebelius! First, we live in the United States of America. We have laws. If Ms. Ignagni has broken the law, take legal action. Your position as Secretary of HHS (questionable if you are qualified), does not allow you to usurp law. I’m sorry Fraulein Sebelius, but you’ll have to play by the rules.Here we go… 

Lesson 1: Misrepresent Your Target’s Position
“….sending letters to their enrollees falsely blaming premium increases for 2011 on the Patient Protections in the Affordable Care Act.” – Kathleen Sebelius

Question: Is Fraulein Sebelius an actuary? I don’t think so. Does she have a firm understanding of how insurance works? No. She is a career politician who slid down the A-list from a possible VP nomination to her present position at HHS. Currently sitting bench on the junior varsity squad, but believes she carries the ‘big stick’, therefore wielding her limited power to make up for career shortcomings.

Lesson 2: Issue Veiled Threat disguised as a ‘Warning’
“I urge you to inform your members that there will be zero tolerance for this type of misinformation and unjustified rate increases.” – Kathleen Sebelius

Let’s call this what it is… a Threat. Please note; there are two threats contained in the letter.

Lesson 3: Parrot Official Propaganda (repeat it often)
Most of the letter is the official “re-sale” of Obamacare. I guess Fraulein Sebelius has never ‘worked’ in sales.

I stop here to give a piece of advice that an old wise man told me when I was younger.

“A turd is a turd, you can’t polish a turd." Obamacare is a turd and everyone knows it. You can wrap it in a pretty box with pretty ribbon and a little bow, but it still stinks! All of the repackaging and remarketing of the product ‘Obamacare’ is not going to change what it really is.

The ‘primary’ design of PPACA (Obamacare) was to change the relationship between the electorate and the elected through creating/increasing dependency on the Federal Government. That is the truth. Paint it whatever color you want. Wrap it in a security blanket and sell it. As we say down here… “That dog won’t hunt!”

“Health insurance companies do not control the cost of healthcare. Health insurance is expensive because HEALTH CARE is expensive. Instead of tackling real problems, you decide to muddy the waters to push your ideals. I get it. But, I don’t buy it.”

Finally, I submit that Fraulein Sebelius is a holier-than-thou bureaucrat, an ideologue with an ax to grind, and a Planned Parenthood operative. (Did I miss anything?)  I am not attacking her personally, I'm attacking her behavior and actions (measurable outcomes of past behavior).

Ms Sebelius,
I welcome you climb down from your ivory tower and join me in the trenches of reality.

To mirror the language that you used in regard to Ms Ignagni; "I urge you to inform your party that there will be zero tolerance for this type of intimidation and veiled threats". The END of your political career begins on November 2nd! I suggest you correct your current course or get packing.

Join the tribe on our crusade to change Washington DC by purchasing an “OVER Nov 2nd” bumper sticker!

Thanks
Lance Cashion

Set your intention for the week today

Set your intention and tone for the week today.  If you know where you want to go, find a way to get there (set goals).  So, you don’t get lost. 

Our time is limited in this life.  It’s what you do right now that matters.

Where do you want to go?

How will you get there?

Lance Cashion

ps. Buy a sticker

2005 Post: Refections of Ground Zero

This is from my myspace blog from Nov 12, 2005 upon my visit to NYC and Ground Zero. I decided to dig it out, reflect and repost. 

My how some things change and yet some things are meant to linger...

Enjoy.

Reflections of Ground Zero

Saturday, November 12, 200510:37pm

Current mood:Reflective and happy
Category: Life

I'm currently in NYC.  I played last night at Spirit.  It was great.

This morning my wife and I headed down to WTC Ground Zero.  I have not been to nyc since before 9/11/01.  Of course, like many of you, those events had a profound effect on my life.  For some reason I've been fighting with demons in my mind from that day for a number of years.  I decided that I would lay them to rest with this visit to NYC.  My trip to the Gound Zero site was more important that the gig that brought me here.  

Since I found out that I would be coming to New York, I wondered how I would feel when I got down to the site.  I've known since 9/11 that I would visit the place where the attacks happened.  I have many fond memories of my vistits to NYC pre-9/11.  My trips in the past have alway included a visit to WTC and sometimes staying at the WTC Marriot.  A good friend worked at Cantor Fitzgerald on the 109 floor.  I've visited him there and went for drinks at Windows on the World.  I've looked out of his office window and seen helocopters hovering directly accross from me.  Clear blue skys so brilliant that they make your eyes tear and seem endless.  I looked down to we why there were several helecoptors hovering.  On the street several thousand feet below, there was a parade.  Have you ever seen a parade from above?  This was as close I would imagine, in my feable mind, of what God's view must be.  It was amazing.  No words could describe it.

Needless to say, some of the people I met at Cantor that day are gone from this earth.  I remeber faces....  It was a great experince to share a piece of a typical work day with my friend.  Luckly, he started working else where a month before the attacks and is doing fine today.

Today, as my wife and I walked up to the site, I was apprehensive about what I was about to experience.  When we flew in last night...  I saw the whole in the sky where the buildings once stood.  Seening NYC from the air at night is a rewarding experience.  It looks like a pulsing, breathing electric organism.

(Next morning) As we turned the corner and I saw empty air where my favorite land marks once stood.  It took my breath away.  It was like diving into cold water.  The skies were clear and blue much like the day that I visited my friend there so many years before.  To say that it was surreal is an understatment.  I felt deja vu.... but I HAD been there before.  The bustling loud streets of the city were suddenly silent as hundreds of people around at the site... I tried to focus on something in the sky that had been there before...  it was not.  My memory was trying to replace the images...  I closed my eyes and could see the two giants in my mind.  I wanted them to be there when I opened them again.   I wanted eveything to be the same as it was before...  I opened my eyes and I was greeted with blues skies.  Never in my life had I hated a clear blue sky, but for a few moments today, I did.  I hated what those blue skies meant in that place.  My two giant friends were gone.  Out of the blue skies came the attacks that topple them and cause sane, able-bodied people to jump to their death.  As I approached the site, I could feel that I was in a special place, a place were a terrible thing happen.  A terrible thing that had left a wound on my soul. It still hurt everytime I thought of that day.

The air was chilled as I took steps toward the site.  The wind was blowing from the site area and hitting me in the face.  I will never forget the wind today.  I'll never forget what it felt like or what it smelled like.  I walked up to the fence to see what was not there.  It was strange... I stood at the fence a peered in.  I was in disbelief.  I was a afraid and confused.  I was afraid that I was going to breakdown in front of everyone there.  God gave me strength as tears filled my eyes...  I had my sunglasses on, so I would be ok.  No would know.  Then, suddenly, I felt like I was the only one there.  I was alone.  Just me and the place... I am convince that I was in another dimension or plain of existance.  It was quiet, it was warm and still. I closed my eyes and saw the buildings crumbling in my mind.  It was real.  I opened them and nothing.  All those poor people... gone.  I was battling with the demons from that day... Right there where it happened.  I picked the place for the fight and I had already decided that I would win.  I would win it on the very spot where it began 4 years ago.  I had prepard for this day. I knew it would come.

Then the cold wind hit me in the face and I was awakend, as if I was awakened from a dream.  The people returned and I returned to this realm of reality.  It was as if God had allowed me to have a moment for just me in a busy city full of people.  For me to battle... To finish the fight.  And it was a good fight.  I could only imagine what my wife would be going through if  we had a different life and we happened to live in New York and I worked at WTC... and went to work that day.  I felt so thankful when she walked over and put her hand in mine...

That is when everything in my life changed today.  Right before my eyes my reality was changed.  As we walked around the site, I noticed men working...  machinery moving earth.  I noticed grass and weeds growing in the excavated area.  LIFE!  Life was moving.  God manifestes himself in life...  You see it when birds fly... when people move... in a smile.  There was life in this place.  It was wonderful to see.  My sadness turned to joy.  I knew all was good.

I looked into the blue sky and thanked it for being so blue today.  I will never curse a blue sky again.  I had triumphed.  I was never going to feel the same about 9/11 again. 

Those were sacred moments in a special place.

Returing to Texas tomorrow.

-Lance

(Posted Nov 12, 2005)

Buy a "Im mad as hell" bumper sticker here... or send one to a friend!

 

two kinds of people

My conclusion; There are 2 kinds of people in the world.  Those who create and those who destroy.  A creative can buy into destruction, but can a destroyer buy into creation? 

I know creative people who follow destructive ideas.

I don't know any destructive people who follow creative ideas.

What are you?

Have you taken the ideas that you hold dear to their logical end?

 

Lance Cashion

Save by gettng creative with your health insurance

I've taken some time off from the ole blog... I'm back!

As you get older, your premiums are going to increase.  That is the truth.  There is no getting around it.  Don’t panic! 

Get creative! 

For instance, I had a 35 yr old young lady who is opening her own business and needed insurance (she was being dropped from her group and COBRA was too expensive).  Her budget was around $130 per month.   That can be a tough one.  The key is to get her on something to cover catastrophic events for a year or two, while she’s building her business.  Keeping in mind that her situation will eventually change and she’ll have a bigger budget for her health insurance. 

The plan of action:
1. We start looking at high deductible HSA (Health Savings Account qualified) plans
2. We hedge against accident with a $5000 Accident Benefit for $29.95/mo
3. We address her desire for physician consultations with a free CallMD benefit (included with the Accident Benefit)
4. We agree that a $5000 (100%) HSA is what she needs for now at $109.00/mo

The result is a hybrid of Health Insurance and essential risk hedges that provide security and protect against catastrophic health events that could jeopardize her finances.  I'm willing to bet that when she does have the extra budget for health insurance, she won't use it.  Why would she?  She got a solid plan to begin with ;)

Budget Target: $130/mo
Cost: $138.95/mo
Benefit: $5 Million in coverage, $5000 accident benefit, CallMD, $5000 Max out of pocket for illness, $250 out of pocket for Accident ($250 deductible on benefit).

We got within $8.95 of her budget and other agents were quoting her $250-$300!  How can a new small business owner with a budget of around $130/mo survive and thrive with premiums eating her budget.  I’ll tell you what happens with most folks, they end up dropping their health coverage to meet payroll, pay a vendor or deal with an emergency.  That is dangerous and there is NO need for it when you get creative! 

Lesson over for today!

Thanks for reading

Lance Cashion

What does 'Thank You' look like?

Thank Yous come in many variations. In the professional world, I enjoy writing Thank You notes. Some may scoff and murmur that it is not a masculine endeavor. I disagree. Taking the time to write a sincere 'Thank You' to a colleague, new business acquaintance or customer is a noble activity.

Apparently a transaction of value has occurred to trigger a heart-felt thank you.

If your day is not going the way you would like it to. Or perhaps you are feeling down or beat-up. Stop and write someone a 'Thank You' note.  Feel free to read an earlier post of mine on this subject... Sorry, I'm a bit obsessed with gratitude at the moment.

What does 'Thank You' look like to you?

Lance

Cut the BS: People Demand Honesty!

I've been on a customer service and No BS tear as of late. I won't apologize because I'm sick of people being treated like idiots by sales people and companies who want our money but don't want to deliver value or service. So, the saga continues with another story of stupidity.

Back Story:

I was having a conversation with my wife this morning (who is a fantastic Realtor). She was reading a description of a home for sale here in Fort Worth. The language used by the listing agent (I won’t use their real name) describing the home painted a picture of a lovely home that was cared for and completely updated. The agent used words like “oasis” and other whimsical language to describe this home. Come to find out, the place is a complete dump. This particular agent has a habit of doing this. Why?

I mean, what does this listing agent have to gain by misrepresenting the property and wasting people’s time? It’s stupid to think that you are going to pull the wool over people’s eyes. I mean, the place is nothing like you describe it.

The agent and consumer would be better served if the agent had said;

• This home is in a great neighborhood (True)
• This home has a lot of potential (True)
• Buyers interested in updating and showing some love to a great old home (True)
• Located in an exemplary school district (True)
• This home is the perfect way to get into a great neighborhood at a discount (True)

You get the picture.

The Real Deal:

I submit that people today are looking for complete honesty and transparency. Be honest! Don’t think you can get away with misrepresenting the truth with me. I’ll research you, the home, the neighborhood, gas leases, soil content, crime rate, previous owners and your real estate company before we even shake hands. I’ll probably know more than you will. So, stop trying to fool people.

You are missing the mark with your marketing strategy, pissing people off and ruining your reputation. Buyers exist that would love to purchase this home but, you are not marketing to them. So, Stop.

Rant over!
Lance Cashion

Do you have any experiences with this type of crap?

Question Day: Tuesday July 27

Today is Question Day!

Every day, I get several emails, calls and messages from folks with various insurance questions. So, I've decided to dedicate a day to giving you answers to your questions. My goal is to build a reliable reference for the people I serve without sales pressure.

I will prove that I provide the BEST customer service in the insurance industry!  Even if you are not a customer, I'll treat you like one.

We're going to keep this simple. You can ask your questions the following ways:

1. Comment Below

2. Email Me

If you have questions that must be held in confidence (ie. pre-existing conditions, health history, etc), please email me. By law, I cannot share information given by clients without permission.

Here are the areas I'll be covering this week:

-Individual Health Insurance

-HSAs

-Term Life

-Medicare Supplements

Let's see how this works out.

Thanks in advance for being a part of the process!

What is your question?