Maggie's FarmWe are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for. |
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Monday, October 17. 2011Making the Revolution!A good reminder: Occupy Wall Street and the Chicago '68 Riots. The Revolution comes to Oakland:
I wish the media would go down to Union Square and interview all the happy young people there. Here's my comment for these envious and hate-filled kids and their media-invented movement - self-important kids and superannuated kids who somehow have time to do street theater which I am sure must be fun and somewhat gratifying if you have no responsibilities in life:
Journalism scandalI think this is a bigger journalism scandal than the Journo-list scandal during the Obama campaign in which the press coordinated their pro-Obama talking points: Busted. Emails Show Liberal Media & Far Left Cranks Conspired With #OWS Protesters to Craft Message The MSM is helping them shape their message, and then reporting it. That is not journalism, but it is how propaganda is created.
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13:50
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A happy NYC park full of happy peopleThe OWS people have a very minimal impact on NYC. We went down to the city yesterday afternoon with friends for matinee theater and dinner, had a little time to kill so wandered around Union Square Park and Broadway. Happy parks filled with young happy people do not make the news. These are the people Obama should be celebrating. More people here enjoying a lovely October day than in Zucotti Park. It was Sukkot, so there were plenty of Hassidim around with their citrons and palms. They ask you "Are you Jewish?" and if you are, they will wish you a good Sukkot. Same as in Washington Square, these speed chess guys with their tables set up will play you for money. More happy pics below the fold - Continue reading "A happy NYC park full of happy people" AOL Irony Gold: Goodbye YUPPIES, Hello DUMPIESReplacing the YUPPIES, AOL hits the irony jackpot today, naming the 2010s young generation the DUMPIES, downward mobile, unemployed, poor. Of course, relatively few of last decade's young were Yuppies, and relatively few of today's are Dumpies. But the Dumpies appelation does seem to fit well the Occupy Wall Streeters. Besides the most common fecal meanings of "dump" as displayed by the photo of a protester defecating on a police car, there's more definitions found at the Urban Dictionary that fit their OWS scene: *To refer to a place or setting that is in poor condition or standards. *One who wallows in their own laziness. *A very lazy, trashy person, often smelling of foul body odor and looking like an all-around ragamuffin. *A word used to describe a person/object/situation that is definitely not even good. Often used in a situation where a boring person makes a boring statement or is just generally being a fail. *To whine about one's problems and let out many emotions to any unfortunate person who has to listen. *Noun; to be someone who's annoying or stupid and annoying.
Posted by Bruce Kesler
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11:23
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Wonkette Anti-Right Headlines, week ending 10/16/11
In case you don't know what Wonkette is, it is — by far — a blog site full of the biggest Lefty fruitcakes in existence. "Frothing at the mouth" would be an adequate description. Following is a selection of their posts and links from just this past week. Remember, folks, if you want the latest anti-right screed, then you want Wonkette! The "Perry’s last chance" debate The lesson of Perry’s candidacy: Think before you run Does Rick Perry really want to be president? Huckabee to Perry: Stop complaining and toughen up "Perry's soft on guns, soft on life…the only thing he’s strong on is his own voice." Mitt Romney: The devil you know Romney can’t beat Obama in 2012 Coulter endorses Romney: "You’ve got to go with what you have" RomneyCare: Making a fool of every Republican it touches since 2006 Harry Belafonte: Herman Cain is a "bad apple" The Cain train is going to wreck This 9-9-9 plan isn’t very progressive "When I hear 9-9-9, I want to call 911" Cain doesn’t have a clue about foreign policy Will the tea party abandon politics? These tea-party congressmen don’t love America That GOP debate certainly was terrifying
Oh, wait a sec. Damn it! Sorry, everyone. I've made a terrible mistake. Those were last week's links from Hot Air, the "leading conservative blog for breaking news and commentary." And just why is the "leading conservative blog for breaking news and commentary" so incredibly defeatist? I have no idea. But hey, this was the blog site that had more anti-Palin links than pro-Palin links during the 2008 election, so who knows what's going on behind the scenes? If anyone out there has the scoop, please let us know in the comments. It's all quite the little mystery. After founder and ex-boss Michelle Malkin wrote her anti-Perry HPV article a month ago, Hot Air promptly ran twenty anti-Perry headlines in a row over the next two weeks. Twenty. The kicker is that Hot Air is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the California-based Salem Communications Corporation, owner of over 1,650 sites, and the "bloggers" are actually compensated writers. In other words, they were paid for the above. Again, I apologize for my grievous blunder, and I promise to be more careful in the future. At least, until next week. Monday morning linksWhere's the outrage? How About An "Occupy Yankee Stadium"? Samuelson: Downward Mobility
Real-estate and newspaper mogul Mortimer Zuckerman voted for Obama but began seeing trouble as soon as the stimulus went into the pockets of municipal unions. Authoritarian Virus Spreading in Europe Entrepreneur de jour: Police lineups on demand What Do You Call a Jobs Bill That Begets No Jobs?: Caroline Baum Elderly patients are being condemned to an early death by hospitals making secret use of “do not resuscitate” orders, an investigation has found Atlanta: Unlike the Tea Party these protestors do not seem to have jobs to attend or families to take care of. They have time on their hands. And they are becoming more emboldened. O'Reilly: What's wrong with the younger generation? Why Is Obama Sending Troops Against the Lord's Resistance Army? Can We Credibly Compare the Current Economic Crisis to the Great Depression? A state sponsor of terrorism gets a taste of its own medicine and doesn't like it Cars are topic of academic inquiry at Stanford University program Welcome to the World of Cyber-Terror Vulnerability Take my Detroit...please.
Potemkin Protests Contrast With VeteransInstaPundit Glenn Reynolds, author of Army of Davids: How Markets and Technology Empower Ordinary People to Beat Big Media, Big Government, and Other Goliaths, which "hails the emergence of a new entrepreneurial class resulting from the democratizing power of technology" according to Publishers Weekly, preceded the Occupy Wall Street protests. But, OWC is a different kind of protest. OWC is a big media promoted event, one that fits its liberal-left memes, organized by radical "community organizers", funded and added manpower from government-union thugs (just look at the size of the OWC bouncers). Struggling to find any allies, President Obama clings to the OWCers ranting at anyone "wealthy", who have avoided facing Obama's crony capitalism -- funding him and he funding them in return with taxpayer dollars 50% supplied by the wealthiest 1% -- that is the real core of our and their economic complaints. As Glenn Reynolds comments about major media coverage of OWC protests, "When lefties want to make the Tea Party fit their preconceptions, they have to make things up. When righties want to exercise their preconceptions about the Occupy movement, on the other hand, they just have to take a picture." Reynolds includes this quote from a columnist:
Continue reading "Potemkin Protests Contrast With Veterans" Sunday, October 16. 2011Medical Cost ContainmentMy wife had knee surgery recently, and our medical group has a wonderful facility nearby. We arrived at 6:30 AM, checked in, she was brought into surgery at 7, and I went home. The drive being only 15 minutes, I was able to return, get something to eat, do some work, and return in time to pick her up. We left at 9:00AM. It was only arthroscopic surgery, something I've had several times over the last 12 years (anyone playing sports is likely to have had it at least once). But it amazes me how quick these have become, showing the huge productivity gains in the medical community. I've had my knee, my elbow, and my back all scoped. The amazing thing is all of these were done at ambulatory care centers. In 1985 I had work done on my knee which today would have been done utilizing arthroscopy. The work was done in a hospital, requiring an overnight stay. It's amazing so many of these surgeries, which at one time required opening up a good portion of the joint, are now barely invasive. It's also incredible that you can literally walk away from many of them. My wife is already limping slightly, and should be moving fairly well by Monday (Friday surgery). When we talk about the rising costs of medicine, we never talk about the improvements that have accompanied the price increases. Sunday morning linksImage via Vanderleun They moved Alexander Hamilton's farmhouse again The $62,000 Per Year Bachelor’s Degree Girl Scouts abandon service for self The Islamization of Londonistan Holy S***: NY Detective Admits To Planting Cocaine On Innocent Citizens Just To Make Drug-Bust Quota; Says Practice Is Widespread AP coins new slogan for Illinois In which Insty begins to get a little ticked off Schultz says 'break' is a 'southern racist term' Message to Maldives president Mohammed Nasheed: your claims are BS They just want OPM Megan: Where did the Green Stimulus money go? They just want OPM Nazis and Communists Throw Their Support Behind Occupy Wall Street Movements Birds of a feather... Have moral choices become simply a matter of taste? Morality is a downer, man. Gotta go with your feelings. Reverse Brain Drain: U.S. Workers Head to Canada We need to be careful around Thanksgiving time as well Sheesh. OK, we will be very careful with the Indian Pudding. Why Romney Can't Beat Obama in 2012 I think a ham and Swiss sandwich could beat Obama, but I have my parochial view on things How long before Dems call OWS a Rovian plot? Resist We Much!… Black Man Starts Chanting “(Obama’s) a House N*gger” at Sharpton Rally Via Driscoll:
Saturday, October 15. 2011Brucie's New CarIf you haven't shopped for a replacement car lately, it has become -- pricewise -- crazier than ever. That's not because of the usual dealer tactics. In fact, with the Internet, the consumer has acquired added info with which to avoid being hornswaggled. It is because due to Cash-4-Clunkers removing so many used cars from the market and the recession reducing new car sales the past few years the price of used cars has increased by 25-50%, so a one or two year old used car -- even high mileage -- costs near as much as a new one. This has increased current new car sales, as why not? That's what I found when searching over the past month for a replacement for my 2000 trusty Taurus, now having imminent engine and suspension problems that would cost me more than the car's value to repair. My wife's criteria was only that it be reasonably reliable and fit my 6-year old Gavin's bike or hold three or four large suitcases. After trying every old trick I knew, I was getting frustrated and furious. Then I found Truecar.com. It tells you the true dealer cost for a new car, thousands below MSRP and well below dealer invoice. It also tells you which dealer in your area is selling for close to dealer cost. So armed, I made my offer to several dealers, being rejected. Then, yesterday afternoon, a dealer agreed. I am now the owner of a new 2012 car. I took 11-year old Jason with me as my tech advisor. Although I chose a bottom of the model, middle-class car, the new car has so many fancy, cool electronics for auto-diagnoses and warnings, communications, music, navigating, etc. (none of which I care about) that my eyes glazed over and my ears heard the seashore. But Jason took it all in immediately and promises to educate me. Almost as techy as Micky's new car.
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Saturday morning linksImage via Moonbattery Successful parasites never kill their hosts What are the Best and Worst Countries for Women? Islamic sex guide says wives meet only 10% of husbands' desires Men are insatiable. No comment. The Next Bubble: Higher Education Europe gives up on global warming Chevy-Dealing Congressman: “There Is No Market” For The Volt Devastating: HHS abandons part of ObamaCare as fiscally unworkable You Know That Your City Has Become A Hellhole When…. Morning Jay: Without Independents, Obama Has No Chance of Victory Astonishing vid: ‘LEAVE HIPPIES ALOOOOOONE!!!’ The intellectual vanguard of the Dem party in action NYT defines “economic vandalism” to fit Obama campaign narrative They are part of the O's campaign once again Elizabeth Warren wants to bust your balls. Funny. Brown could use it as an ad. House Bill Would Criminalize Satire of TSA Who cares? They satirize themselves. I have been bullied by these would-be police officers, who could never pass a police exam - or an exam on good manners. Trust me - I do not look like a shoe bomber.
Could be a plot. I don't know. Redstate: What the GOP Must Do: Finding Common Ground With the Occupiers Giuliani: I Would've Told OWS Protesters, 'Streets Are Not For Sleeping' Occupier: It's the rich Jews EPA's CO2 Endangerment Finding is Endangered Treasury officials: Never saw a loan like Solyndra:
Crony socialism and political payoffs. It's the Chicago Way. Nice. Mead: The administration’s goal has to be to get this story off the front page and fast. Uh oh. Obama wants a government bank to fund more Solyndras Via Gateway: Friday, October 14. 2011What Might Happen If OWS Stays?Anyone who is familiar with the Occupy Wall Street movement knows that it has more or less 'settled' Zucotti Park. This is a very small area (roughly 33,300 square feet) down by the World Trade Center. It's a private park owned by Brookfield Partners. It has no habitable area, but the squatters are creating their own living conditions. They claim they will stay for as long as they have to. Most of us doubt this is true. I'm willing to bet the minute the TV cameras leave, or the first large snowstorm blows through, most of them will leave. What if they don't, though? Could they stay forever? It's possible. The potential is there. In fact, there is history supporting this kind of thing. So let's take a look at what might happen if these people never leave. If you've ever been to Denmark, or Copenhagen specifically, you might be familiar with Freetown Christiana. Christiana is an old military barracks/base which was abandoned by 1970. In 1971, local residents broke down the fence to create a playground, and eventually many people began living in the facilities because housing in Copenhagen was hard to come by. It became a relatively autonomous commune. I found out about it as a teen, when I visited Copenhagen in 1976. At the time, I was deemed "too young" to see it. Seven years later, as a college student living abroad, I visited Copenhagen and this time I made three trips to Christiana. I will admit, it was a great party. But even then I realized it was no place to live. I was alternately impressed and repulsed. With each visit, I was less and less impressed.
Continue reading "What Might Happen If OWS Stays?"
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Finally, a Manifesto
"Demands"? Are you kidding me? Well, it's about time: Occupy Wall Street: A Manifesto for [Insert Date]
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11:28
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Friday morning linksFive best books about writing for newspapers Steve Jobs Was A Lousy Role Model Yom Kippur: Worthy of the Covenant The Global Overselling of Higher Ed ...where do they all come from?
Somin: Incentivizing Terrorism We are the 53% Colleen Carroll Campbell: Obama is alienating Catholic voters Are Democrats Eyeing 401(k)s, IRAs for Tax Hit? Pelosi: Pay for abortion, or women 'die on the floor' Good grief. Didn't people ever hear of paying the doctor? Another one: Solar Project That Received $1.2 Billion Federal Loan Sponsored by Financially Troubled Firm Solar Energy Lobby Calls For Extending Obama's Stimulus Grants for Solar Power That is termed "chutzpah" “Professors are asking their classes [emphasis added] to take the day to actually go to this rally," So either the profs feel they have little of value to offer, or the profs have contempt for those paying the tuition Will: Can Occupy Wall Street give progressives a lift? A quote:
Stoners and career protesters in the grass, alas Rules for WI Radicals (and public unions, really) This is an exciting time for the taboo science of solar physics Bill Clinton Rebukes Obama: “Should You Raise Taxes Today?… No!” Rush Limbaugh: Mitt Romney Is Not a Conservative Rush is right, as always. Mitt is a successful businessman and talented executive turned pol, and not deeply ideological. I think lots of people are comfortable with that. Romneycare? Big error, but the people who have not fled MA yet seem to sort-of like it thus far. I would hate it, on principle, just like Medicare. Socialism never adds up because job-creators won't take risks for nothing. Thursday, October 13. 2011CreepyI don't take this as threatening because I think he's not too bright, but I still can't believe he says this: Jackson, Jr: Obama should ‘declare a national emergency,’ add jobs with ‘extra-constitutional’ action. So much for his oath of office, and for his respect for the law of the land. And yes, he will be re-elected for as long as he wants to run.
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13:51
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Eat the Rich!
The numbers are, of course, the effective rates (ie after deductions), not the marginal rates. Related, at Human Events: Tax the Rich? It's Been Done, With Depressing Results. A quote:
In other words, it's not our money.
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13:02
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Thursday morning linksE O Wilson at 82 Glen Campbell update Cheating is the New Normal Totally awesome hot air balloons (h/t Linkiest) When Fighting Cancer Is Folly - Sometimes doing nothing is better than doing something. Why women have sex Australia commits suicide BRITAIN is set to suffer a mini ice age that could last for decades and bring with it a series of bitterly cold winters. NASA’s Hansen made up to $750,000 on the side in 2010 "Green is good" Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Files for Bankruptcy, Lawyer Says Today, for the first time, Americans enjoy less economic freedom than Canadians–and Englishmen, too. Environmentalism has been the bane of the Obama administration from the beginning Guess Who REALLY Planned The Occupy Wall Street Millionaires March "Insane" Even by Chicago and Illinois Standards: Pension Triple Dipping on Steroids at $500k/Year News Unions Support ‘Revolution’ of Occupy Wall Street Wednesday, October 12. 2011Pay my tuition!Sheesh. Ask your parents before asking me to pay it. I have my own to pay for, shmuck. Next, they will want us to buy their cars and to pay for their car insurance. Amusingly, such people are blind to their own greed which they project onto others. Gimme, gimme. If you gave him a free tuition, he'd want something free after that. An entitlement/freebie mindset never stops, and creates permanent infants instead of self-reliant adults. Or sociopaths, which this guy sounds like with his lack of shame and humility for asking for charity.
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19:18
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Romney's Healthcare Reform A Band Aid On A HemorrhageDuring last night’s Republican debate, all agreed on repealing ObamaCare. But only Romney mentioned that we need something to replace it and mentioned he has that plan.
So, I looked at Romney’s campaign website about healthcare. To be quick out of the blocks, Romney promises to exempt all states from ObamaCare on his first day in the Oval Office, then ask Congress to repeal it.
To control federal costs, he would provide block grants to states to devise their own, closer to their publics, programs. Individuals would be able to deduct premiums from taxes, as businesses can. Preexisting conditions would not affect insurability if the individual had prior continuous coverage, a spur to taking more self-responsibility. HRAs, pretax savings accounts for healthcare, would be expanded to pay for premiums, making the cost of premiums less for taxpaying consumers, and cross-state purchases would be allowed to avoid costly state mandates. Non-medical malpractice tort awards would be capped.
These are all well and good………if one just wants band aids for a hemorrhage.
It is probably politic to avoid rousing the ire of independents via Democrat MediScare charges. But as I argued yesterday the core problem is not addressed: extensive government direction of medical care driving up costs to today’s unaffordable levels for the budget and for consumers, distorting markets, reducing individual choice and overriding individual circumstances. Thus far, only the Ryan plan addresses it.
Regardless of whom is elected president in 2012, it will be up to Congress to choose whether we continue on a government-lighter or ObamaCare model, or face up to the real drivers of healthcare costs in excessive government direction of healthcare.
Even if one forgives Romney for RomneyCare being a mistake of the past, he does not adequately learn from nor atone for it. For that matter, the other Republican presidential potentials have not even been as specific as he in what they’d do after being elected. Inadequate from all. Romney may have strengthened his case for “inevitability” in last night’s debate by his smoothness and command of details. And something is better than nothing. However, that something is still nothing compared to the unresolved challenges we must face to retain healthcare quality and access at affordable costs, enhanced freedoms, and the resources needed to face the US other needs.
Posted by Bruce Kesler
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12:59
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How the US government created the economic messThe real story is not complicated. "Wall Street's Gullible Occupiers. The protesters have been sold a bill of goods. Reckless government policies, not private greed, brought about the housing bubble and resulting financial crisis." One quote:
Read the whole thing. The government essentially forced lenders into the subprime markets and to violate their own lending standards. Naturally, they didn't want these crappy loans on their books, so they packaged them as derivatives and sold them to eager buyers worldwide (unaccountably rated triple A when any fool could see that they were below investment-grade). With that, combined with low interest rates and people using their suddenly-valuable homes as ATMs, the housing and construction debt-bubble was created and inevitably burst. Why the world's financial geniuses didn't see it coming is beyond me. Everybody on the internet saw it coming. All bubbles burst, but this was a biggie-sized one just like the internet bubble. Based on my reading, I had shorted housing-related equities, did not buy my living quarters which I could not have afforded anyway, and made out like a bandit. It was just too easy, even for an amateur. Call me greedy. Of course, the rest of my quite modest portfolio did horribly. Equity baskets have been a bad bet for many years now. Munis stink too. Sorry I didn't buy gold, but I always thought gold was for end-of-the-world nutjobs. I am no economist nor do I play one on the internet, but my take on things today is that fear of government is part of what is holding back investment in the US. That, plus people freaking out about their debt - and their lower-to-zero incomes. It is not particularly mature to blame banks who were willing to lend you money, though, even when they perhaps doubted your ability to repay it. An adult who takes on debt is supposed to be an honorable citizen who will repay that debt, or have their credit and reputation ruined for ten years or more. Employers check your credit rating. My only debts are my student loans which were such a good deal that I am in no hurry to pay them all off, as long as my career proceeds on course. However, periodically I borrow money from my local bank or my credit cards. Small amounts - $5000-10,000 - then pay it back after a couple of months. I use that trick to keep my credit rating up to date and in good shape (I rent). One of these days, I will really use my credit card to take a good girlfriend or future spouse on a bike tour around Sicily. I can't wait.
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12:10
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Weds. morning linksToon above via Tiger Unleash Your Inner Victim for Wealth and Power! Night owls read news on tablets, as mobile overtakes computer for at-home browsing On Monday, as the WSJ reports, the Archives of Internal Medicine published a study showing a small increased risk of death among older women who took vitamins and other supplements. Guy Benson on the Dartmouth debate:
Henderson on Sargent and Sims Nobel
Hmmmmm. In the US, shrinking unions have retreated to the bastions of monopoly - schools and givernment (sp), where they wield great power to plunder the people: November ballot is a death match for Ohio public unions Jacobson: The problem with public sector employee unions In California:
Union blocks cheaper college degrees From FDR's warning: Public employee unions a no-no:
White House lawyers who drafted secret Awlaki kill memo were critics of Bush’s war powers:
Steyn: Is there anyone out there other than David Brooks who still thinks Barack Obama is a compelling public speaker? He’s Back - Vladimir Putin, the once and future president of Russia. An illustrated guide: The homes Kamp Alinsky Kids won’t protest Radler: From "Spreading The Wealth" To "Spreading The Misery" That's a very clear essay Meyers: Why unhappy people become Liberals EU Forbids Balloons, Party Favors It's about time. Fun is dangerous! Communist Party Announces Solidarity with 'Occupy Wall Street' The Left's Nervous Breakdown: Obama has failed, and his supporters are turning to nihilism. I can't imagine what has become of their tourism industry Here's The Real Reason Why Occupy Wall Street Protesters Aren't Getting Kicked Out Of Zuccotti Park Einstein letter on auction block Christie contradicts self with Romney endorsement The Basic Law and Economics of The Durbin Amendment From Reason: Tuesday, October 11. 2011Revolution!Bruce found this: The 1960s radicalism of Occupy Wall Street will help elect a Republican in 2012. True, if they keep it up I can't tell what these stoners think because it is difficult to decipher their logic. However, their demeanor is what probably turns people off. These are not good poster children for the Democratic party (below from Gateway):
I forget where I found this one:
US Healthcare Reform: Wrong Premise, Wrong SolutionsThere is no perfect solution to what varying interest groups or segments of public opinion desire as reforms to US healthcare. Now that we’ve gone down the path of ObamaCare and RomneyCare, that is more evident. The question, then, is what course is more promising? The answer is less government intervention in healthcare than preceded ObamaCare or RomneyCare. There are three core problems with either ObamaCare or RomneyCare. Each by itself raise conflicts with facts, law, and public desires. Together, they are a witches brew. Both ObamaCare and RomneyCare are based on wrong premises of government intervention and result in worsening the future of healthcare in the US. ObamaCare and RomneyCare are premised on extending more medical care to the uninsured even beyond need or personal responsibility or affordability. They are premised on reducing or moderating our national costs of healthcare even though they fail to do so and in many ways increase costs. They are premised on the imposition of added government regulation and intervention into individual choice and circumstances even though neither science, management, competence, politics nor majority public support is up to the task nor expected to be. But one has to go deeper than that to find the roots of the false premises of ObamaCare and RomneyCare. The roots are in government healthcare programs themselves like Medicare and Medicaid. Regardless of any good intentions or needs, they set the course of government being the solution. Regardless of promises or embedment they have expanded beyond initial promises or need. Regardless of the good they do they have done more harm to healthcare by distorting its economics and its public perception. Regardless of cost they have increased costs to those outside these programs. Regardless of their public acceptance they have become unaffordable. It is painful to abandon ObamaCare or RomneyCare. It is less painful to change course entirely. From decades and certifications in health insurance I am highly critical of health insurers, and moreso as they have become more self-servingly enmeshed in government healthcare programs. That said, private insurers are more responsive to change, improvements, competition, and tailoring coverages to individual needs than any government program is capable. Further, individuals – including the poor or uneducated – are more able to discern their own needs than any government bureaucrat. Further, groups advocating types of health insurance coverage beyond the core would have to compete with more transparent facts and costs instead of canoodling with and paying off politicians. Congressman Paul Ryan has proposed the reform of Medicare that would reverberate throughout US healthcare. It is estimated by the CBO to “totally reverse the course of recent fiscal history by lowering federal health care spending from 8% of GDP today to just 5% by 2050. If we remain on the current course, the spending would jump to 14% in that time frame.” For a good summary, see here. As Fortune says,
The Obama re-election administration has lambasted Ryan with Democrat MediScare (even though Ryan's program would reduce government subsidies for the wealthy!) Mitt Romney tries to explain that ObamaCare exceeds RomneyCare’s ailments instead of admitting original sin. The other major Republican candidates, in this as in other areas, have not put forth anything but slogans. Perhaps that’s about all we can expect from an election season. To avoid facing the battle during the elections, I suppose that Ryan will not be the V-P nominee. (Even though "70% Favor Individual Choice Over Government Standards for Health Insurance," there doesn't appear sufficient courage or faith in the voters for leading candidates to take the risk.) However, after 2012, we must either turn to Paul Ryan or continue our present muddle that resolves little and increases faults. I don’t know whether Ryan would be most effective in Congressional leadership or as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Whichever will depend on the size of the Republican majority and the intelligence and guts of the next president and Congress.
Posted by Bruce Kesler
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12:43
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Tuesday morning linksImage stolen from SISU's Occupy Wall Street: What rough beast? In the US as in the UK, the only opponents to school choice are the unions ...dark energy is the biggest mystery in science. NYT: For men living with a diagnosis of prostate cancer, the news that the P.S.A. test does more harm than good has been unsettling and confusing. College sticker shock: Is $55,000 the new $50,000? NPR prepares for a new reality Eyewitness to History! - Hanging out with Spooky the anarchist, Amy the gender-bender, Sid the Nazi, and other occupiers of Wall Street. No adults among the Occupy Wall Street protesters Obama: “Under my plan … electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket.” FIGHT TO HOLD WALL STREET ACCOUNTABLE NOW! MAKE A DIFFERENCE! GET PAID! Obama attacks banks while raking in Wall Street dough Sex, drugs and hiding from the law at Wall Street protests 'Occupy Wallstreet' Protesters Steal from Local Businesses Surber: Why not Occupy Harvard? Photo of the Day from Occupy Charlotte: “I’m $100k in debt. I’m 22. Yay College” Shocker. Obama’s Top Political Advisor Directly Linked to Occupy Wall Street Protests George Soros, Agent Of Chaos Williams: It's Hard To Be a Racist Calif. Governor Veto Allows Warrantless Cellphone Searches What a loss to humanity it would have been if Jobs had dedicated the last 25 years of his life to figuring out how to give his billions away, instead of doing what he does best. SunPower: Twice As Bad As Solyndra, Twice As Bad For Obama Rubin: Romney’s white paper: A guide to a post-Obama foreign policy Vietnam 1965: The Day It Became the Longest War Judicial Watch Releases Comprehensive Special Report on President Obama’s 45 Czars House Panel Seeks Details on IRS Investigations of Nonprofits The Liberal Misappropriation of a Conservative President ACORN: Puppet Master of Occupy Wall Street Via Vanderleun: "At the least, we can say that [the OWS kids] are putting their college educations to good use." Monday, October 10. 2011How Bad Luck & Bad Networking Cost Douglas Prasher a Nobel PrizeThen, the guy was a Toyota salesman. It is quite a story about how relationships matter in accomplishment. Lots of very smart people suck at those social things, however. That's why they should start their own operations. I am glad that Prasher got a few bucks from his work, and, finally, a job.
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