Point of View

UNITED STATES—I tell this to people all the time, summer seems like the quickest season. I mean it’s already August and I was just talking about July last week. It seems like you really only have 6 weeks of summer compared to the actual 3 months so many people know we actually get. I guess I don’t consider it...

UNITED STATES—Hi Toni: My husband is an oil company retiree and two weeks ago, we received a letter stating that his employer is terminating current Medicare eligible retirees group benefits with a termination date of September 30, 2021, when the plan renews. His employer has chosen a specific HRA company to help us choose the right Medicare and Part D...

UNITED STATES—The new decade is already shaping up to be a major turning point in how people live, work, play, and interact with one another. There’s an old theory that a new century takes about 20 years to get underway, culturally. Historically, that’s been true. The 1820’s and 1920’s were watersheds of change in many ways, and the 2020’s...

UNITED STATES—It has been a hell of a past two weeks for me people, how I have not fallen to pieces I have no idea, but I have dealt with two unexpected tragedies that struck my family at the core. I had a cousin unexpectedly die after going into hospice and then another family member die after a stroke....

UNITED STATES—Toni: My husband is a Korean War Veteran and never enrolled in Medicare Part B because he uses the VA, close to where we live in Iron Mountain, Michigan for his medical care. He is having to wait for care from the VA and he wants to go to a local cardiologist. He is 88 years old and retired...

UNITED STATES—This past weekend was the first time I entered a movie theater in over 18 months. Yes, 18 months. For me that is unheard of because I’m a movie lover. Going to the movie theater was a ritual for me where I would go at least once a week, if not twice a month at the bare minimum....

UNITED STATES—Well Congress has proved to us once again that the well-being of the public is not a concern of theirs.  They have allowed the sequester cuts to go into effect after not being able to reach a tentative agreement before the February 28 deadline. So what does this mean for Americans?  The sequestration cuts are automatic cuts totaling more...

UNITED STATES—I will be the first to admit it: we all have bad days. It is part of life. If someone comes to you and just seems to be positive 24/7 like Ned Flanders on “The Simpsons” I would seriously think something is wrong with that individual. It is just not possible and I don’t care what anyone says....

UNITED STATES—Well that time has come around again on the uproar from those against and those in favor of a federal minimum wage increase. For those not in the know, the federal minimum wage is $7.25. It was last raised to that amount in 2009. That is nearly 12 years ago. Am I in favor of a minimum wage...

UNITED STATES—There has been a lot of chatter lately from people in my circle who have been abuzz with the concept of tipping. When should you tip and when should you not tip? It does seem like no matter where you go nowadays everyone wants you to tip. I am a firm believer that you should always tip when...