Build a Health Care Bill: Ideas Submitted by a Reader

The following health care reform ideas were forwarded to me by a reader:

The idea that we need reform in our health care system is not as controversial as the proposed health care measures that are before congress. I am on Medicare and buy a supplemental insurance policy. My Medicare payments for my wife and myself last year were $8400 and this year they are estimated to be more. The supplemental was over 6k and these costs did not count deductibles, co-pays and the amount charged by doctors. Additionally, 85% of my Medicare payments were taxed and since our income was over 125k, the tax amounted to about 30% for a whopping government payment of close to 11k.

The reform package that is so called revenue neutral would add somewhere between 20 and 30 million people to the public option. Let's grant that revenue neutrality is a fact for the moment and also agree that Medicare is going bankrupt in 8 years,. What prevents Medicare from going bankrupt? In elementary school all of us learned that adding 0 to a term which is going negative won't change the result.

A true reform could be written in 100 pages or less and would include the following:

a] A clinic system for the poor [25k/yr or less income] to which they would pay $100/yr. The Gov. would initialize this system with $10b.

b] A risk pool for catastrophic illness to which all could belong for $250/yr/family and to which insurance companies would contribute 0.5 % of gross profit/ yr. The government would budget $5b/ yr to this pool and it would be independently held by a coop that would make investments that were risk constrained, but not government bonds.

c] Businesses would underwrite tax free amounts up to $6k/yr to each employee for health insurance which would be a business expense. Any amount above this would be taxable.

d] The small business association would be allowed to purchase insurance across state lines similar to AARP.

e] Mal- practice awards would be limited to $250k plus medical expenses. Any doctor found to be guilty of malpractice 2 times in 3 years would have to go back to school for a year and be re-certified before continuing to practice. Lawyers' fees bringing such suits would be limited to 20% of award and if the suit was judged to be frivolous would have to pay the legal fees and court costs for both parties. These suits would be decided by a three person panel consisting of a judge, a lawyer appointed by the ABA and a doctor appointed by the AMA or the association to which the doctor being sued belongs. All decisions would be final.
There are several other tenets of real reform should that I have included on my blog, Keeperofthefaith.wordp...

My plan has 9 bullets, costs the Gov. $60b over ten years. If the fraud and abuse savings the congress and the president claim possible in Medicare and the revenue neutral assertion really materialize, then the cost curve will truly bend by $340b over ten years. If not, then by definition the costs will be known and can at least be budgeted.

This plan in the end would address most of that which concerns us, makes the reform understandable to our citizens and removes it from the political agenda that furthers either party's power. Approaching this problem with a real desire to solve it rather than both logic that doesn't compute and legislation that even the most diligent among us either can't or won't understand should be an absolute requirement of our elected officials. If it turns out not to be, I say we should replace them all regardless of party, the training they had before they got elected, sex, race, religion or sexual orientation.

Comments or ways to improve the ideas presented are welcome. As are any other problems you think should be addressed by health insurance reform legislation.

Contribute your ideas as comments to this blog or in the Discussion Board of the Facebook Group "Build a Health Care Bill: We Can Do It Better Than Congress". Or, if you received this by email you can reply by email.

Return to the "Build a Health Care Bill" Content Index

Link to the "Build a Health Care Bill" Idea Log

Build a Health Care Bill: Problem 2 – Self-Employed Coverage – Part 1

Problem 2:
Self-employed people, and those working for companies that don’t provide health insurance, need the ability to join or create groups for the purpose of buying group health insurance.

Solution Ideas:
Background
Current law, I think in all 50 states, prohibits the creation of groups for the purpose of underwriting health insurance. And, individual insurance is inherently more expensive than group insurance.

Idea #1.
State Employment Agencies could create insurance groups and negotiate group health insurance policies with private insurance companies. They could then enroll the self-employed and those not covered by employer sponsored group insurance in a State Employment Agency group health insurance plan upon a declaration that they do not have employer sponsored insurance.

Idea #2.
Create incentives for organizations to form insurance groups and offer health insurance to members.

Idea #3.
Create incentives for the states to enact exceptions to their own insurance regulations; exceptions that allow people who are not members of an insurance group to form health insurance groups so they can become eligible for group health insurance.

Additional ideas for solving this problem or ways to improve the ideas presented are welcome. As are any other problems you think should be addressed by health insurance reform legislation.

Contribute your ideas as comments to this blog or in the Discussion Board of the Facebook Group "Build a Health Care Bill: We Can Do It Better Than Congress". Or, if you received this by email you can reply by email.

Return to the "Build a Health Care Bill" Content Index

Link to the "Build a Health Care Bill" Idea Log

Build a Health Care Bill: Problem 1 – Coverage Between Jobs – Part 1

Problem 1:
In order to cover periods of temporary unemployment, enable people to buy inexpensive temporary group health insurance focused on catastrophic health events. It wouldn't need to cover office calls, vision, dental, psychiatric, or a lot of other things typical benefit packages cover.

Solution Ideas:
Background
There are some legal obstacles to allowing the unemployed to buy group health insurance focused on catastrophic health events. One obstacle is the prohibition from forming groups for the purpose of buying health insurance. This prohibition exists in most states and may exist in all 50 states.

Another obstacle is coverage requirements enforced by state insurance regulators. The coverage requirements differ from state to state but in all cases they require coverage of health care that exceeds the definition of a “catastrophic health event”. In all cases they unnecessarily increase the cost of insurance and push people into making the choice to forego health insurance during periods of unemployment.

Idea #1.
State Employment Agencies could create insurance groups and negotiate group catastrophic health insurance policies with private insurance companies. They could then enroll the unemployed in their group health insurance plan at the same time they sign up for unemployment benefits.

Idea #2.
Modify COBRA to allow a former employee to downgrade the coverage to “catastrophic health events” only.

Idea #3.
Enact incentives for organizations to offer health insurance options, especially catastrophic event health insurance to members.

Idea #4.
Enact a Federal exception to state insurance regulation to allow temporary catastrophic event health insurance that does not contain the mandatory coverage required by the various states.

Idea #5.
Enact incentives for the states to enact exceptions to their own insurance regulations to allow temporary catastrophic event health insurance that does not contain their mandatory coverage’s.

Additional ideas for solving this problem or ways to improve the ideas presented are welcome. As are any other problems you think should be addressed by health insurance reform legislation.

Contribute your ideas as comments to this blog or in the Discussion Board of the Facebook Group "Build a Health Care Bill: We Can Do It Better Than Congress". Or, if you received this by email you can reply by email.

Return to the "Build a Health Care Bill" Content Index

Link to the "Build a Health Care Bill" Idea Log

Build a Health Care Bill: Problem 1 – Coverage Between Jobs – Part 1

Problem 1:
In order to cover periods of temporary unemployment, enable people to buy inexpensive temporary group health insurance focused on catastrophic health events. It wouldn't need to cover office calls, vision, dental, psychiatric, or a lot of other things typical benefit packages cover.

Solution Ideas:
Background
There are some legal obstacles to allowing the unemployed to buy group health insurance focused on catastrophic health events. One obstacle is the prohibition from forming groups for the purpose of buying health insurance. This prohibition exists in most states and may exist in all 50 states.

Another obstacle is coverage requirements enforced by state insurance regulators. The coverage requirements differ from state to state but in all cases they require coverage of health care that exceeds the definition of a “catastrophic health event”. In all cases they unnecessarily increase the cost of insurance and push people into making the choice to forego health insurance during periods of unemployment.

Idea #1.
State Employment Agencies could create insurance groups and negotiate group catastrophic health insurance policies with private insurance companies. They could then enroll the unemployed in their group health insurance plan at the same time they sign up for unemployment benefits.

Idea #2.
Modify COBRA to allow a former employee to downgrade the coverage to “catastrophic health events” only.

Idea #3.
Enact incentives for organizations to offer health insurance options, especially catastrophic event health insurance to members.

Idea #4.
Enact a Federal exception to state insurance regulation to allow temporary catastrophic event health insurance that does not contain the mandatory coverage required by the various states.

Idea #5.
Enact incentives for the states to enact exceptions to their own insurance regulations to allow temporary catastrophic event health insurance that does not contain their mandatory coverage’s.

Additional ideas for solving this problem or ways to improve the ideas presented are welcome. As are any other problems you think should be addressed by health insurance reform legislation.

Contribute your ideas as comments to this blog or in the Discussion Board of the Facebook Group "Build a Health Care Bill: We Can Do It Better Than Congress". Or, if you received this by email you can reply by email.

Return to the "Build a Health Care Bill" Content Index

Link to the "Build a Health Care Bill" Idea Log

Build a Health Care Bill: Problem 4 – Childhood Pre-Existing Conditions – Part 1

Problem 4: Childhood Pre-Existing Conditions
If a child has a pre-existing condition that employer-based insurance has covered for years; when that young person graduates from college, with or without a job, will they be able to get insurance coverage?

Solution Ideas:
Idea #1.
The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about this problem is the mandate currently proposed by Congress that would require insurance companies to write policies regardless of pre-existing conditions. This was tried by Massachusetts’ state run health insurance system and it contains a huge moral hazard problem.

Healthy people could, did, and still do, go without health insurance in Massachusetts secure in the knowledge that when they become ill or injured they can buy insurance after the fact that will pick up the tab for their health expenses commencing immediately upon signing the contract – even if they’re hospitalized at the time of signing. This, of course, is a recipe for financial disaster for any insurance system. It’s also the reason proposed legislation contains a mandate that everyone must have health insurance – a mandate with tax penalties to be enforced by the Internal Revenue Service and backed up by jail time tax in the event of non-compliance.

Idea #2.
Another possibility is to allow the young adult to indefinitely piggy-back on the parent’s health insurance. This would postpone the problem but in most cases the time will come when the parent’s health insurance is terminated and the adult child will face the original situation.

Idea #3.
Allowing the child to spin off an individual health insurance policy from the parents insurance company without pre-existing condition limitations could also work. However, this option runs into the portability and individual policy cost problems. Still, if the portability and individual policy cost problems are also solved the spin off policy idea might be viable.

Additional ideas for solving this problem or ways to improve the ideas presented are welcome. As are any other problems you think should be addressed by health insurance reform legislation.

Contribute your ideas as comments to this blog or in the Discussion Board of the Facebook Group "Build a Health Care Bill: We Can Do It Better Than Congress". Or, if you received this by email you can reply by email.

Return to the "Build a Health Care Bill" Content Index

Link to the "Build a Health Care Bill" Idea Log

Build a Health Care Bill: Problem 6 – Rapidly Rising Costs

What problems do you think should be solved by a health care reform bill?

Problem 6:
Pretty much everyone has experienced the ever rising cost of health insurance premiums. Most employers increase employee co-pays and deductibles every year by amounts that exceed the annual inflation rate. This year Medicare premiums will increase even though inflation has been negative.

Some of the increases in health care costs come from new procedures and drugs curing and controlling illnesses and injuries that were untreatable just a few years ago. Some of the increase is due to violence and drug abuse and some from our increased longevity. Some portion of the cost increases are related to the growing number of medical malpractice lawsuits and their ever increasing punitive judgments. And some portion comes from state legislatures and insurance regulators requiring that health insurance cover non-traditional conditions.

There are other sources of health care cost increases. To identify each one and develop mitigation strategies without limiting improvements in medicine or medical care to individuals – that is the problem.

If you have health care pet peeves write them in the comments section.

Return to the "Build a Health Care Bill" Content Index

Link to the "Build a Health Care Bill" Idea Log

Build a Health Care Bill: Problem 5 – Doctor Shortage

What problems do you think should be solved by a health care reform bill?

Problem 5:
According to Joseph Stubbs, president of the American College of Physicians, there is already a serious shortage of primary care physicians and some parts of the country are currently experiencing the effects of the doctor shortage.

The capacity of the health care system must be expanded. The alternative is rationing or even higher prices.

If you have health care pet peeves write them in the comments section.

Return to the "Build a Health Care Bill" Content Index

Link to the "Build a Health Care Bill" Idea Log

Build a Health Care Bill: Problem 4

What problems do you think should be solved by a health care reform bill?

Problem 4:
Bill Roy offered the problem below thru the Facebook Group, "Build a Health Care Bill: We Can Do It Better Than Congress".

"Of future concern to me, a child has a pre-existing condition that employer-based insurance has covered for years. Someday, when that young person graduates from college, with or without a job, will they be able to get insurance coverage?"

If you have health care pet peeves write them in the comments section.

Return to the "Build a Health Care Bill" Content Index

Link to the "Build a Health Care Bill" Idea Log

Build a Health Care Bill: Problem 3

What problems do you think should be solved by a health care reform bill?

Problem 3:
Another problem with health insurance that I’ve experience indirectly is the cost of coverage for low income young adults without access to employer-based health insurance.

When my children reached majority they were no longer eligible for coverage under my employer-based health insurance. But my children’s incomes could not support individual insurance coverage and their employers did not offer health insurance.

So, another problem I want to address is the availability of very basic health insurance with costs low enough so that young working adults, ineligible for Medicaid, will be able to afford the monthly premiums.

If you have health care pet peeves write them in the comments section.

Return to the "Build a Health Care Bill" Content Index

Link to the "Build a Health Care Bill" Idea Log

Featured Posts

Featured Posts on a Variety of Topics:

Any of Us Would be Angry
Cry Racism!
David & Bathsheba - Obama & the Nobel
Dogwood Blossoms
I Love My Wife
Inflation is Coming
Mm, mmm, mm! Barack Hussein Obama
Poem: In Flanders Fields
Sarah Palin: Preparing for Battle
Tea Parties
The Land of the Free & the Home of the Brave
Too Big to Fail
Torturous Caterpillars

Build a Health Care Bill: Problem 2

What problems do you think should be solved by a health care reform bill?

Problem 2:
Another health insurance issue I've personally experienced is getting coverage for my family when I was self-employed from 1994 thru 1998. Because I was not a member of any qualified group I was ineligible for group health insurance. Individual policies were extraordinarily expensive – but I finally found one with a $2,000 family deductible that I could afford.

So, another problem I want to address is the ability to join or create groups for the purpose of underwriting group health insurance. Current law, I think in all 50 states, prohibits the creation of groups for the purpose of underwriting health insurance. I’d like to see that restriction relaxed.

Do you have a health care pet peeve?

Return to the "Build a Health Care Bill" Content Index

Link to the "Build a Health Care Bill" Idea Log

Build a Health Care Bill: Problem 1 - Coverage Between Jobs

What problems do you think should be solved by a health care reform bill?

Problem 1:
Employer provided health insurance has been very good - but I’ve been between jobs a couple of times and risked having no insurance for my family because COBRA insurance was prohibitively expensive.

So, one problem I want to address is to enable people to buy temporary group health insurance focused on catastrophic health events. It wouldn't need to cover office calls, vision, dental, psychiatric, or a lot of other things typical benefit packages cover.

Do you have a health care pet peeve?

Return to the "Build a Health Care Bill" Content Index

Link to the "Build a Health Care Bill" Idea Log

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved, and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

- Lt.-Col. John McCrae (1872 - 1918)

Link to Featured Posts

Build a Health Care Bill: Idea Log

Return to the "Build a Health Care Bill" Content Index

What problems do you think should be solved by a health care reform bill?

Problem 1:
In my personal experience, employer provided health insurance has been very good - but I’ve been between jobs a couple of times and risked having no insurance for my family because COBRA insurance was prohibitively expensive.

So, one problem I want to address is to enable people to buy temporary group health insurance focused on catastrophic health events. It wouldn't need to cover office calls, vision, dental, psychiatric, or a lot of other things typical benefit packages cover.

Solution Ideas:
Background
There are some legal obstacles to allowing the unemployed to buy group health insurance focused on catastrophic health events. One obstacle is the prohibition from forming groups for the purpose of buying health insurance. This prohibition exists in most states and may exist in all 50 states.

Another obstacle is coverage requirements enforced by state insurance regulators. The coverage requirements differ from state to state but in all cases they require coverage of health care that exceeds the definition of a “catastrophic health event”. In all cases they unnecessarily increase the cost of insurance and push people into making the choice to forego health insurance during periods of unemployment.

Idea #1.
State Employment Agencies could create insurance groups and negotiate group catastrophic health insurance policies with private insurance companies. They could then enroll the unemployed in their group health insurance plan at the same time they sign up for unemployment benefits.

Idea #2.
Modify COBRA to allow a former employee to downgrade the coverage to “catastrophic health events” only.

Idea #3.
Enact incentives for organizations to offer health insurance options, especially catastrophic event health insurance to members.

Idea #4.
Enact a Federal exception to state insurance regulation to allow temporary catastrophic event health insurance that does not contain the mandatory coverage required by the various states.

Idea #5.
Enact incentives for the states to enact exceptions to their own insurance regulations to allow temporary catastrophic event health insurance that does not contain their mandatory coverage’s.

Problem 2:
Another health insurance issue I've personally experienced is getting coverage for my family when I was self-employed from 1994 thru 1998. Because I was not a member of any qualified group I was ineligible for group health insurance. Individual policies were extraordinarily expensive – but I finally found one with a $2,000 family deductible that I could afford.

So, another problem I want to address is the ability to join or create groups for the purpose of underwriting group health insurance. Current law, I think in all 50 states, prohibits the creation of groups for the purpose of underwriting health insurance. I’d like to see that restriction relaxed.

Solution Ideas:
Background
Current law, I think in all 50 states, prohibits the creation of groups for the purpose of underwriting health insurance. And, individual insurance is inherently more expensive than group insurance.

Idea #1.
State Employment Agencies could create insurance groups and negotiate group health insurance policies with private insurance companies. They could then enroll the self-employed and those not covered by employer sponsored group insurance in a State Employment Agency group health insurance plan upon a declaration that they do not have employer sponsored insurance.

Idea #2.
Create incentives for organizations to form insurance groups and offer health insurance to members.

Idea #3.
Create incentives for the states to enact exceptions to their own insurance regulations; exceptions that allow people who are not members of an insurance group to form health insurance groups so they can become eligible for group health insurance.

Problem 3:
Another problem with health insurance that I’ve experience indirectly is the cost of coverage for low income young adults without access to employer-based health insurance.

When my children reached majority they were no longer eligible for coverage under my employer-based health insurance. But my children’s incomes could not support individual insurance coverage and their employers did not offer health insurance.

So, another problem I want to address is the availability of very basic health insurance with costs low enough so that young working adults, ineligible for Medicaid, will be able to afford the monthly premiums.

Problem 4:
Bill Roy offered the problem below thru the Facebook Group, "Build a Health Care Bill: We Can Do It Better Than Congress".

"Of future concern to me, a child has a pre-existing condition that employer-based insurance has covered for years. Someday, when that young person graduates from college, with or without a job, will they be able to get insurance coverage?"

Solution Ideas:
Idea #1.
The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about this problem is the mandate currently proposed by Congress that would require insurance companies to write policies regardless of pre-existing conditions. This was tried by Massachusetts’ state run health insurance system and it contains a huge moral hazard problem.

Healthy people could, did, and still do, go without health insurance in Massachusetts secure in the knowledge that when they become ill or injured they can buy insurance after the fact that will pick up the tab for their health expenses commencing immediately upon signing the contract – even if they’re hospitalized at the time of signing. This, of course, is a recipe for financial disaster for any insurance system. It’s also the reason proposed legislation contains a mandate that everyone must have health insurance – a mandate with tax penalties to be enforced by the Internal Revenue Service and backed up by jail time tax in the event of non-compliance.

Idea #2.
Another possibility is to allow the young adult to indefinitely piggy-back on the parent’s health insurance. This would postpone the problem but in most cases the time will come when the parent’s health insurance is terminated and the adult child will face the original situation.

Idea #3.
Allowing the child to spin off an individual health insurance policy from the parents insurance company without pre-existing condition limitations could also work. However, this option runs into the portability and individual policy cost problems. Still, if the portability and individual policy cost problems are also solved the spin off policy idea might be viable.

Problem 5:
According to Joseph Stubbs, president of the American College of Physicians, there is already a serious shortage of primary care physicians and some parts of the country are currently experiencing the effects of the doctor shortage.

The capacity of the health care system must be expanded. The alternative is rationing or even higher prices.

Problem 6:
Pretty much everyone has experienced the ever rising cost of health insurance premiums. Most employers increase employee co-pays and deductibles every year by amounts that exceed the annual inflation rate. This year Medicare premiums will increase even though inflation has been negative.

Some of the increases in health care costs come from new procedures and drugs curing and controlling illnesses and injuries that were untreatable just a few years ago. Some of the increase is due to violence and drug abuse and some from our increased longevity. Some portion of the cost increases are related to the growing number of medical malpractice lawsuits and their ever increasing punitive judgments. And some portion comes from state legislatures and insurance regulators requiring that health insurance cover non-traditional conditions.

There are other sources of health care cost increases. To identify each one and develop mitigation strategies without limiting improvements in medicine or medical care to individuals – that is the problem.

Other Ideas:
a] A clinic system for the poor [25k/yr or less income] to which they would pay $100/yr. The Gov. would initialize this system with $10b.

b] A risk pool for catastrophic illness to which all could belong for $250/yr/family and to which insurance companies would contribute 0.5 % of gross profit/ yr. The government would budget $5b/ yr to this pool and it would be independently held by a coop that would make investments that were risk constrained, but not government bonds.

c] Businesses would underwrite tax free amounts up to $6k/yr to each employee for health insurance which would be a business expense. Any amount above this would be taxable.

d] The small business association would be allowed to purchase insurance across state lines similar to AARP.

e] Mal- practice awards would be limited to $250k plus medical expenses. Any doctor found to be guilty of malpractice 2 times in 3 years would have to go back to school for a year and be re-certified before continuing to practice. Lawyers' fees bringing such suits would be limited to 20% of award and if the suit was judged to be frivolous would have to pay the legal fees and court costs for both parties. These suits would be decided by a three person panel consisting of a judge, a lawyer appointed by the ABA and a doctor appointed by the AMA or the association to which the doctor being sued belongs. All decisions would be final.

If you have health care pet peeves write them in the comments section.

Return to the "Build a Health Care Bill" Content Index

Build a Health Care Bill

This is a Content Index of our Health Care Reform Proposal:

We Can Do It Better
Idea Log
Problem 1: Coverage Between Jobs
Problem 1: Coverage Between Jobs - Part 1
Problem 2: Self-Employed Coverage
Problem 2: Self Employed Coverage - Part 1
Problem 3: Low Income Young Adults
Problem 4: Childhood Pre-Existing Conditions
Problem 4: Childhood Pre-Existing Conditions - Part 1
Problem 5: Doctor Shortage
Problem 6: Rapidly Rising Costs
Ideas Submitted by a Reader - 12/29/09

Link to Health Care Articles on the Web

Build a Health Care Bill: We Can Do It Better Than Congress

Congress has made a hash of health care reform. Taxes, mandates, government run options, Medicare cuts, delayed start up and many other consistent “features” of the various bills proposed in the House of Representatives and in the Senate run counter to the will of the majority of the people.

I propose that we can do better. I mean you and me and everyone who reads these words - us.

What about our current health insurance systems and structures concern you? What do you think are the most important changes we should make?

I believe we can have the non-partisan conversation and debate that would have taken place in Washington if there were real representatives of the people in Congress. Unfortunately, we have power-hungry political hacks infesting Congress. Unfortunately, we can expect only more of the same insanity.

But, if we have an open discussion of what we have and what we want, we can develop a real health insurance reform that will work for America.

Let’s start by determining what issues to tackle. Tell me what you think are the important health reform topics.

Return to the "Build a Health Care Bill" Content Index

Special Report: Universal Health Care

Liberty, Freedom & Slavery: Part 1 – The Preamble

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

The Preamble to the Constitution, transcribed above, is a noble statement of the intent of the 1st Constitutional Convention. It tells us why the founders wrote the remainder of the document

It seems very clear. It’s hard to misunderstand. The Preamble clearly does not grant powers or restrict powers for anyone, or any group, or to the government.

Nevertheless, we hear congressmen and senators in Washington pointing to this Preamble – this statement of intent – as the authority for whatever whim strikes their fancy; for whatever legislation they dream up.

They tell us the Constitution gives them the power to do anything they think will “promote the general Welfare”.

If that were the intention of the Constitution’s writers they could have dispensed with half of the document.

If that were the intention of the Constitution’s writers they wouldn’t created an amendment process.

If that were the intention of the Constitution’s writers they wouldn’t have added the Bill of Rights.

If that were the intention of the Constitution’s writers they wouldn’t have listed the “Powers of Congress” in Section 8.

If that were the intention of the Constitution’s writers they wouldn’t have listed the “Limits on Congress” in Section 9.

Obviously, the writers of the Constitution did not intend Congress to be able to enact whatever law they wished to ascribe to promoting the general welfare. But the current members of that once august body, simply do not care what the Constitution says or what the writers of the Constitution intended

http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html

The link above will take you to an on-line version of the Constitution of the United States. If you read it, you will be surprised at what Congress is not allowed to do.

Link to Other Topics in the Special Report: Liberty, Freedom & Slavery

Special Report: Liberty, Freedom & Slavery

Links to Topics in the Special Report: Liberty, Freedom & Slavery

Liberty, Freedom & Slavery: Part 1 - The Preamble

Special Report: Economic Stimulus

Links to "Economic Stimulus" Topics:

Economic Stimulus: Part 1 - Economists & Witch Doctors
Economic Stimulus: Part 2 - How We Got Here
Economic Stimulus: Part 3 - Why Government Spending Will Not Work
Economic Stimulus: Part 4 - Reducing Debt vs Increasing Consumption
Economic Stimulus: Part 5 - Government Policy Options
Economic Stimulus: Part 6 - Unintended Consequences
Stimulus Spending Is Ineffective
A "Borrow and Spend" Binge

Speicial Report: Liberty is Radical

Links to "Liberty is Radical" Posts:

The Land of the Free & the Home of the Brave
Liberty is Radical - Part 1 - Subjects or Citizens
Liberty is Radical - Part 2 - The Declaration of Independence
Liberty is Radical - Part 3 - Slavery

Special Report: Chaos By Incentives

Links to Chaos By Incentives Posts:

Chaos by Incentives - Part 1
Chaos by Incentives - Part 2
Chaos by Incentives - Parts 3

David & Bathsheba - Obama & the Nobel

The abridged Bible story version:
King David spied Bathsheba on the roof top and lusted for her. He sent for her and got her pregnant.

Bathsheba’s husband, an officer in David’s army, brought David a message from the battlefield. Needing an opportunity to cover up their adultery, David offered Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband, an opportunity to sleep at home with his wife before returning to the battlefield. But, thinking of his men and fellow solders, Uriah declined the offer and returned to the battle without sleeping with Bathsheba.

Then David ordered his general to assign Uriah the most dangerous place on the battlefield - where he was subsequently killed.

Later, David took Bathsheba as his wife and she bore him a son. The Prophet Nathan rebuked David for his sins against Uriah. And God punished David.

The Obama version:
President Obama saw an opportunity to feel love from more people around the world by winning the Nobel Peace Prize.

He lusted for the Prize and for the love of many people, so he dithered over sending requested reinforcements to Afghanistan. Without additional troops to implement the counter-insurgency strategy, greater numbers of American solders will likely die.

It’s said President Obama may wait until after the consummation of the Nobel award ceremony to announce his decision on the requested reinforcements.

David killed one honorable man to satisfy his lust; Obama’s lust may kill hundreds.

Link to Featured Posts

The Nobel Peace Prize – Really?

As the entire world knows by now, Barack Hussein Obama was awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. I’m told the nominations were made in February 2009 – the month following his inauguration as President of the United States.

In his first month in office he did nothing to save the world and create “peace in our day”. In his first nine months in office – to date – he has done nothing to further world peace.

So far, he’s continued the policies of George W Bush in Iraq and Afghanistan, even though his appointed top General now wants to change the strategy.

Barack Hussein Obama continues the Iran policies of George W Bush – orchestrating ever stricter sanctions while Iran continues its nuclear weapons development.

Terrorists still occupy Club Gitmo despite his executive order to close it. He still hasn’t figured out what to do with these worst of the worst terrorists captured on the field of battle.

He reneged on his earlier promise to continue George W Bush’s policy of extending the US ballistic missile shield to defend Poland and the Czech Republic.

Barack Hussein Obama nationalized large portions of the automobile and banking industries. He’s also working hard to nationalize the health insurance industry and cripple the energy industry while raising taxes on everyone in multiple ways in the middle of recession.

He raised tariffs on tires imported from China.

I can’t think of much else he’s done in his first nine months except talk and travel. He’s done a lot of that, visiting numerous cities overseas and taking every possible opportunity to apologize for everything done by the United States prior to the beginning of his term in office.

So, did the Nobel Committee award Barack Hussein Obama the Peace Prize for what he has done? No?

Perhaps he was awarded the prize for preventing John McCain from being President.

Why then? Because he’s black? If so, the award should’ve gone to the American voters who elected him.

Barack Hussein Obama in a short statement this morning said he is not worthy to receive this award. On the surface this seems one of the few times truth has escaped his lips.

On the other hand, the Nobel Peace Prize isn’t what it once was. It’s been so devalued in recent years that perhaps he is worthy. Worthy of a prize awarded for adherence to a radical socialist agenda – not for increasing peace in the world.

Cry Racism!

The University of Virginia, like many other schools, celebrates an annual “Diversity Day” that is more of a “White Guilt Awareness Day”.

Newsweek’s recent cover story, “See Baby Discriminate” concludes that children are natural racists and must be trained out of it.

Eric Holder, President Obama’s Attorney General, said the United States was “a nation of Cowards” on matters of race. But the socialist Left in the United States has no inhibitions about calling Conservatives and Libertarians of any color racists or worse.

Julianne Malveaux, cited as a “race expert” on ABC’s “Good Morning America” said of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas: “I hope his wife feeds him lots of eggs and butter and he dies early like many black men do, of heart disease…”

In her September 12th column Maureen Dowd asserted that Representative Joe Wilson’s “You Lie!” outburst was racist. She wrote: “Surrounded by middle-aged white guys – a sepia snapshot of the days when such pols ran Washington like their own men’s club – Joe Wilson yelled ‘You lie!’ at a president who didn’t. But fair or not, what I heard was an unspoken word in the air: You lie, boy!”

If Maureen Dowd heard “You lie, boy!” instead of “You lie!” it says much more about Maureen Dowd than about Joe Wilson. One must wonder how often she uses that phrase, if only in her mind, for her to hear it so clearly when so many others did not.

Still Holder has a point. There was little outcry when young black men brandishing clubs intimidated voters at polling places last November. There was barely a murmur when charges against them were dropped by Eric Holder’s Justice Department a few months later.

Except for Rush Limbaugh and the rest of talk radio, one might never have heard of Tea Partiers called Nazi’s and “brown shirts” by leading Democrats.

Until I read it on American Thinker I hadn’t heard anything about how black entertainer Lloyd Marcus was treated by opponents of the numerous Tea Parties across America; for example. “You are the dumbest self hating f***ing n***** I have ever seen!”

But the Tea Parties are changing things - or perhaps it was Eric Holders exhortation to talk about race openly. Conservatives are starting to speak despite being called racists. The Left has used it too often and against people to whom it would not stick. Plus, the stakes are too high now to allow racist intimidation to keep us from speaking.

When we speak of race what shall we say? Shall we remind you of the white cop in Massachusetts who was called a racist by a Harvard professor for investigating a possible home invasion? Shall we mention that Tiger Woods is the most popular Golfer in decades? What about the millions of dollars earned by Oprah and Bill Cosby because tens of millions of white people like watching them?

Can we talk about authors Thomas Sowell and Walter Williams? How about Colin Powell and Condi Rice? Can we say anything about Clarence Thomas?

Bobby Jindal is of Indian (Asian) descent not African, but as Governor of Louisiana, he’s a bright shinning star in the Conservative Movement.

We could remind you that Socialists (Liberals) supported the abortion of 40,000,000 unborn black American children and that mostly white conservatives opposed it. We might tell you that Socialists (Liberals) oppose school voucher programs that have lifted thousands of inner-city children out of failed Socialist-run public school systems - and that mostly white conservatives had to fight to get those programs started.

We will tell you that President Obama’s Socialist policies are bad for America. They are bad for us and they are bad for you. Yes, he is a black man and yes, his policies are bad.

It’s a shame that the first black President of the United States had to be a left-wing Socialist Democrat who will probably go down in history not only as the first black president but also as the worst president.

I truly wish the first black president could have been a conservative that people voted for because of his policies, experience, and integrity. Unfortunately, many people fell in love with the idea of voting for the first black president. As a result we have Barack Hussein Obama – no experience, no integrity – just pure unadulterated Socialism.

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Mm, mmm, mm! Barack Hussein Obama

Red, yellow, black or white
All are equal in his sight
Mmm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama

He stepped down from Mount Olympus at the Democrat National Convention.

Television news anchors felt tingles running up their legs.

Oprah cried.

MSNBC called him God-like.

Lewis Farrakhan called him the Messiah.

Colonel Gaddafi suggested the “Son of Africa” should be President for Life.

Some think he will replace their kitchen and pay their rent.

And now, New Jersey children are taught to think of Barack Hussein Obama when they hear the words of a children’s Bible School song:

Red, yellow, black or white
They are precious in his sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world

Here are the complete lyrics and a link to the video of New Jersey children singing the song in a public school.

Video of Elementary School Children Singing "Mm, mmm, mm!"

Lyrics Taught in a New Jersey Elementary School
Mm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama

He said that all must lend a hand
To make this country strong again
Mmm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama

He said we must be fair today
Equal work means equal pay
Mmm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama

He said that we must take a stand
To make sure everyone gets a chance
Mmm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama

He said red, yellow, black or white
All are equal in his sight
Mmm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama

Yes!
Mmm, mmm, mm
Barack Hussein Obama

My stomach churns. Never before have I felt physically sick over any political event; angry, yes; disappointed, yes; afraid for my country, yes; physically sick, no!

Something is seriously wrong with people who buy into this stuff.

Few political leaders in recorded history have claimed to be God. Some Roman emperors made the claim. The emperors of Japan claimed descent from their primary Gods. But not even Napoleon, Hitler, Stalin, or Mao made that claim. Kings and queens in Europe claimed they ruled by Divine right but they didn’t claim God-ship. Emperors of China claimed to rule with the favor of Heaven but they knew the favor could be withdrawn.

Iran’s mullahs say they for speak for God but, as far as I know, not even North Korea’s Kim Jung Il claims to BE God.

Obama and his supporters have created a cult that seems to literally worship him. And this in the United States of America whose ambassadors refused to bow to kings; whose flag is not dipped in deference to royalty.

Who are these people?

Are they the people who burned in Waco?

Are they the ones who drank Jim Jones’ Kool Aid?

Are they Moonies in linen robes selling flowers on street corners?

Mmm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama

Who ARE these people?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k6tTyRiXME&feature=player_embedded

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The Land of the Free & the Home of the Brave

O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

Francis Scott Key wrote these words referring to a specific banner flying over a specific fort that was then under bombardment by the British Navy with whom we were at war.

Today there many thousands of star spangled banners flying all over this great land. But the question is still a good one.

Does that star spangled banner yet wave over the land of the free and the home of the brave?

The banner waves – but is the land free?

Does a Constitution still limit the powers of government? Are we citizens or are we subjects? Do we own property or does the government allow us to hold it? Are we responsible for our own lives or is the government responsible for us?

Are the powers of the federal government limited and enumerated or are they whatever Congress and the Supreme Court say they are? Are powers not specifically granted to the federal government by the Constitution reserved to the States and to the People?

The banner waves – but does it yet wave over the home of the brave?

Will we stir ourselves to restore limited Constitutional government of the people, by the people, and for the people? Are we willing enough – brave enough – to do what is necessary?

O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

Links to Other Posts in the Special Report: Liberty is Radical

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Special Report: Universal Health Care

Links to Other Topics in the Special Report: Universal Health Care

"Build a Health Care Bill" Content Index
Build a Health Care Bill: We Can Do It Better Than Congress
Death by Rationing
ObamaCare: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly, and the Ignored - Part 1
ObamaCare: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly, and the Ignored - Part 2
ObamaCare: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly, and the Ignored - Part 3
ObamaCare: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly, and the Ignored - Part 4
ObamaCare: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly, and the Ignored - Part 5
Small Business Disincentives
47 Million Uninsured
Health Care Reform Simplicity

ObamaCare: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly, and the Ignored – Part 5

This series on ObamaCare (as embodied by the July 14th, 2009 version of H.R.3200) has been overtaken by events. President Obama in his speech before Congress on 9/9/2009 asserted a willingness to make changes to “his plan”. He reiterated many portions of H.R.3200 but indicated a reluctant willingness to make changes to get a bill that can pass.

As a result, I will curtail my analysis of H.R.3200 and instead discuss reforms that could improve health care and health insurance for some without screwing it up for everyone else; Reforms in the spirit of the Hippocratic Oath, “First, do no harm.”

The Ignored
1. Increasing Supply: - If between 10,000,000 and 50,000,000 people not currently insured become insured after some fashion, the demand for health care will increase. Yes, they already get health care thru hospital emergency rooms, but their consumption of health care will increase after they are insured. That’s the point of giving them insurance coverage in the first place.

Regardless of the form taken, the eventual health care reforms will cause rationing unless the supply of health care is increased. Prices will go up or waiting times will lengthen.

What it needful is an intentional opening up of medical schools of all types and encouragement for people to go into medical fields.

Identification of best practices and assistance in communicating them throughout the medical community will also help increase the net supply by making existing capacity more productive

2. Tort Reform: - Putting caps on civil malpractice judgments will not only reduce the direct costs of health care providers by reducing their liability insurance premiums. It will also increase available medical capacity by reducing the amount of unnecessary “defensive medicine”.

Tort reform does not mean eliminating malpractice suits. It does mean eliminating or capping punitive judgments over and above actual damages. Wronged patients must be compensated for their real damages including lost wages, but a malpractice suit should not be equivalent to winning the lottery.

3. Increase Health Insurance Competition: - Positively authorizing interstate commerce in health insurance will immediately create a market of between 1,000 and 1,500 health insurers competing against each other in all 50 states. Today, individual state regulations require insurers to be licensed by the state of the insured. They also require certain unique sets of coverage in each state. For these reasons most state health insurance markets have only 5 to 25 licensed health insurance competitors.

Increasing competition from 25 companies to 1,000 companies will assure real competition, real price pressure, and real productivity improvements. Increasing competition by one “public option” competitor will have little effect as competition (not counting the effects of the proposed tax incentives that would encourage employers to drop private health insurance plans in favor of paying an 8% additional payroll tax).

Still more ignored but actually useful reforms remain for future posts.

Links to Other Topics in the Special Report: Universal Health Care

ObamaCare: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly, and the Ignored – Part 4

In Part 1 of this series I listed things in the house version of ObamaCare (H.R.3200) that I think are conceptually good and also some conceptually bad. Parts 2 & 3 highlighted parts of H.R.3200 that are downright ugly. Part 4 extends the list of the ugly.

The Ugly - Continued
8. Squeezing Hospitals: - Section 1103 requires acute care hospitals, nursing facilities, long-term care hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, hospice facilities, and psychiatric hospitals to reduce costs annually based on a nation-wide business productivity improvement index. This will motivate these providers to cut corners, reduce services, reduce capital investment (to reduce depreciation expense) and tempt them to reduce the quality of health care overall.

9. Limitation on Physicians’ Services to those Covered in a Fee Schedule: - Section 1121 limits the services for which physicians will be paid by Medicare to a list of specific approved services that are to be detailed on a Physicians Fee Schedule. This is yet another method of preventing doctors from using their own judgment in recommended treatment options to you – the patient.

10. Establishment of Limits on the Rate of Increase in Payments for Services: - Section 1121 establishes a target growth rate in the payment of services. The target will be calculated in a manner that cannot be determined by reading the H.R.3200 but the target will be used to limit payments to providers so that the overall rate of increase in the aggregate payments will rise at a rate less than or equal to the target rate. This will further squeeze payments to doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers forcing them to reduce costs, services provided, and quality of care.

11. “There Shall be NO Administrative or Judicial Review”: - Six times in H.R.3200 groups of decisions to be made by new government agencies established by H.R.3200 are removed from ANY form of review. They will not be subject to review by the courts nor will any administrative body be established to review these decisions – they are absolute.

12. Limitation on Hospital Expansion: - Section 1156 limits, and in some cases prohibits, the expansion in the number of hospital operating rooms, procedure rooms, and beds. The rules applying to these limitations cannot be determined by reading H.R.3200. The effect of such limitations is inevitable rationing by bureaucratic command or by lengthy waits for service.

There’s still more ugly to report in future posts.

Links to Other Topics in the Special Report: Universal Health Care

ObamaCare: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly, and the Ignored – Part 3

In Part 1 of this series I listed things in the house version of ObamaCare (H.R.3200) that I think are conceptually worthwhile and also some conceptually bad. Part 2 highlighted parts of H.R.3200 that are downright ugly. Part 3 adds to the downright ugly list.

The Ugly - Continued

4. Health Choices Administration: - Section 203 requires the Health Choices Administration to “specify the benefits to be made available under Exchange-participating health benefits plans”.

5. Coercion of Employers: - Section 313 requires additional payroll taxes of 8% of payroll on employers that do not provide qualified health insurance (QHBP). This tax is to be paid to the Health Choices Administration.

6. Advanced Care Planning Consultation: - Section 1233 requires “advance care planning consultations” if the patient has not had such a consultation with a health care practitioner in the past five years. “Advance care planning consultations” include

“An explanation by the practitioner of the continuum of end-of-life services and supports available, including palliative care and hospice, and benefits for such supports that are available …”

7. Patient Decision Aids: - Section 1236 establishes a demonstration project in which health care providers “shall routinely schedule Medicare beneficiaries for a counseling visit after the viewing of such a patient decision aid … and to assist the beneficiary in thinking through how
their preferences and concerns relate to their medical care”.

Patient Decision Aid is defined as “an educational tool (such as the Internet, a video, or a pamphlet) that helps the patients (or, if appropriate, the family caregiver of the patient) understand and communicate their beliefs and preferences related to their treatment options, and to decide with their health care provider what treatments are best for them based on their treatment options, scientific evidence, circumstances, beliefs, and preferences.”

Shared Decision Making is defined as “a collaborative process between patient and clinician that engages the patient in decision making, provides patients with nformation about trade-offs among treatment options, and facilitates the incorporation of patient preferences and values into the medical plan.

The wording of this section seems harmless but it is mandated, the results are to be recorded and submitted to a government agency - the Health Choices Administration, and the overarching purpose is to reduce the cost of health care. This adds up to a conceptually useful tool that is likely to used as a weapon to convince, cajole, and shame Medicare patients into “taking a pill instead of having the operation” in President Obama’s words.

There’s still more ugly to report in future posts.

Links to Other Topics in the Special Report: Universal Health Care

ObamaCare: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly, and the Ignored – Part 2

In Part 1 of this series I listed things in the house version of ObamaCare (H.R.3200) that I think are worthwhile in concept if not in their implementation. I also presented elements of the proposed legislation I considered bad in concept. Part 2 highlights some things in H.R.3200 that are downright ugly.

Some have said there is no bill simply because nothing has yet been passed. In response, I point out that H.R.3200, as posted on the Internet prior to the Congress’ August recess, is the bill President Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid pushed to pass and sign into law BEFORE leaving Washington for the recess.

H.R.3200 may be modified after Congress returns in September, but the version dated July 14, 2009, is the version they want.

The Ugly -
1. Losing Your Current Insurance: - Section 102 allows current health insurance plans to be “grandfathered” so “you can keep your current insurance if you like it”. However, paragraph (a) (2) reads as follows:

“Limitation on Changes in Terms or Conditions – Subject to paragraph (3) and except as required by law, the issuer does not change any of its terms or conditions, including benefits and cost-sharing, from those in effect as of the day before the first day of Y1.”

This paragraph seems to require conversion to a “qualified” plan if anything changes in your current health insurance. If you have insurance through a private employer you are aware that health insurance coverage is renegotiated annually. So unless your employer elects to keep the current plan literally forever you will be forced into a “qualified” plan – probably as early as the year following enactment of ObamaCare (Y1).

2. Squeezing Insurance Companies: - Sections 141, 142 and 161 combined turn health insurance into a true commodity. Section 141 establishes a “Health Choices Administration”. Section 142 requires that the “Health Choices Administration create a standard benefits package that defines a “Qualified” plan or QHBP. And Section 161 establishes a limit on how profitable a health insurance company can be by requiring rebates to policy holders when profitability exceeds a predefined level. Insurance companies would effectively become “mutual insurance companies” and stock holders will need to find other investments. Capital will become a problem and a couple of years with higher than expected claims may force companies out of business.

3. Insurance for Illegal Aliens: - Section 301 theoretically precludes illegal aliens from getting taxpayer-paid public option health insurance. It does not preclude them from buying public option health insurance that will almost certainly be subsidized for all. It will also be entirely moot if President Obama and the Democrat Congress are able to push through their desired “comprehensive immigration reform”. Once passed the illegals would be illegal no more and hence eligible for taxpayer-paid public option health insurance after all.

There’s plenty more ugly to report in future posts.

Links to Other Topics in the Special Report: Universal Health Care

ObamaCare: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly, and the Ignored – Part 1

Most people acknowledge that reform of our health insurance system is needed but they do not agree on the nature and scope of reform.

The version of President Obama’s health care bill now before the House of Representative is H.R.3200 titled “America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009”. It is, of course, very controversial. The link in the previous sentence will take you to an on-line copy of the 1,017 page bill with hyperlinks to each section. You can also download the entire bill in PDF format. Be warned, it is very difficult reading. Representative John Conyers spoke the truth when he said he would need two days with two lawyers to interpret what the bill means.

Representative Conyers used that as an excuse for why he hasn’t read the bill. But, the fact that Congressmen are willing to vote for and pass a piece of legislation they not only have not read but are unable to understand is sufficient reason to show them the door. If the Congress that writes and votes for a bill cannot understand its own work – who can – who will? The logical implication is that the courts will decide what the bill means since no one else knows.

Still, many people have now read the bill and interpreted what is in it - and what is not - as best they can. Below, I have summarized the most important findings – the good, the bad, the ugly, and the ignored.


The Good
Availability and Renewability: Section 112 requires insurers to make insurance available and renewable except for non-payment of premiums and Section 111 prohibits exclusion of coverage for pre-existing conditions.
Covering those Who Cannot Afford Insurance: Section 242 provides coverage for people who are not eligible for Medicaid but earn less than 400% of the official poverty level.
Covering Pre-existing Conditions when Switching Insurance: Section 111 prohibits exclusion of coverage for pre-existing conditions.

The Bad
Higher Federal Deficits: The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the bill will add $1.6 trillion to the Federal debt burden over the next ten years.
Higher Payroll Taxes: Sections 312 and 313 require all employers with payrolls exceeding $250,000 per year to contribute to the health insurance of their employees directly or indirectly through a sliding scale of additional payroll taxes. This means that employers that do not currently provide health insurance for their employees will be forced to do so one way or the other. Marginally profitable businesses will go out of business or layoff workers because of this increased expense.
Citizen Coercion – Section 401 imposes an income tax penalty of 2.5% of adjusted gross income upon anyone who is not covered by a qualified health insurance plan. This penalty will be enforced by the Internal Revenue Service.

The Ugly and The Ignored still to come.

Links to Other Topics in the Special Report: Universal Health Care

Death by Rationing

The various health care bills before Congress this summer, if enacted, will kill your mother. Regardless of what President Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, or the other Democrat leaders say, their legislation will ration health care.

Consider:

• They say there are 47 million uninsured Americans. If true, and if they are all covered by the new universal health care program then 47 million people will soon consume much more health care than they consume now. Demand for health care nationally should increase by more than 20% but the number of doctors, nurses, clinics, and hospital beds will remain roughly constant.
  
• The program makes no secret of its intention to squeeze doctor’s pay in the name of efficiency and eliminating abuse. But if a job pays less then less people want the job. Less pay will result in fewer doctors.
  
  These situations will produce higher demand for a shrinking supply of service. Normally, prices would go up but, under universal heath care, prices will be controlled. This will produce lines of people waiting for service; like the lines at gas pumps when the price of gas was controlled in 1973; like the lines at controlled price Soviet food stores when a rumor circulated that the store had fresh fruit.
  
  It will result in months-long waits for certain tests and treatments; kind of like the waits in Canada and the United Kingdom under their current universal health care administrations.
  
  People will die waiting for treatment.
  
  Consider:
• The bills would establish a “Federal Health Board” empowered to approve procedures & medications based on their cost and typical effectiveness. Health care providers would be prohibited from administering disapproved treatments. Your doctor, your mother’s doctor, would not be allowed to prescribe the treatment he believes is necessary or best in your mother’s individual case. He would be constrained to prescribe only the treatments allowed by the “Federal Health Board”.
• It is said that 90% of health care expenses are incurred in the last 6 months of life. That could be understood to mean 90% of the cost of your personal medical care under today’s circumstances is, on average, expended in the last six months of your life.
  
• The program diverts $200 billion net from Medicare to help fund the currently uninsured. Proponents say the cuts will extend the life of the Medicare “trust fund” by five years.
  
• Elderly people will be required by the program to undergo periodic “End of Life Counseling” encouraging death (hospice or assisted suicide) instead of treatment.
  
• Proponents of “universal health care” describe calculating a value of expected remaining quality life - for use in treatment approval decisions for elderly or terminal patients.
  
  These thoughts imply a predilection toward estimating the remaining life of the patient if effective treatment is administered; when the estimate is six months or less then treatment would be cut off. As President Obama put it, “you might be better off just taking a pain pill”.
  
  Depending on exactly how the calculation of a “value of expected remaining quality life” works, that six month cut off time for treatment could be much longer. After all, once they chop off the last six months of your mother’s life they will quickly find that 90% of the remaining health care costs are incurred in the last six months of your mother’s new and shorter life. And so they will be tempted to chop off another six months, and another, and another?
  
  Health care cost can indeed be controlled. Demand can be brought back in balance with supply.
  
  All that is needed is death by rationing.

Links to Other Topics in the Special Report: Universal Health Care

Any of Us Would be Angry

President Obama said in his 7/22/2009 press conference that “any of us would be angry” if, like his friend Henry Gates, the police knocked on our door investigating a “break-in in progress” at our home.

In the event, Mr. Gates apparently did break into his own home and was seen doing so by a neighbor who called the police. Mr. Gates became belligerent when the police officer asked for identification. He was arrested for “disorderly conduct” and the charges were later dropped.

One aspect of the incident that’s received little attention is the President’s assertion that “anyone would be angry”.

If I broke into my own house, and I have, I most assuredly would NOT be angry if the police came to investigate a reported break-in.

I would be careful to make certain that the police knew who I was and that I was not a threat. I would be thankful that my neighbor noticed the “break-in” and that the police responded to the report. I would feel just a bit more confident in the competence and reliability of my local police department.

It seems to me that only someone with a huge chip on his shoulder would get angry in this situation. Perhaps that describes both Mr. Gates and President Obama.

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47 Million Uninsured

President Obama says 47 million Americans lack health insurance. One breakdown of that number is:

• 9.5 million people are illegal aliens


• 8.3 million uninsured people earn between $50,000 and $74,999 per year and choose not to purchase insurance


• 8.7 million uninsured people earn over $75,000 a year and choose not to purchase insurance


• 6 million are estimated to be eligible for Medicaid but have not signed up


• That leaves 14 million "at risk" Americans lacking health insurance

There is a significant debate going on about these numbers; their accuracy and their implications. One aspect of the numbers that's being overlooked is that coverage of illegal aliens will absolutely encourage the number of illegal aliens to grow.

Already pregnant Mexican women cross the border solely for the purpose of giving birth in the United States and guaranteeing their off-spring United States citizenship.

Legally paying for all the health care for illegal aliens will surely encourage many to cross the border just to go to the doctor or get a prescription. It will encourage still more to cross into the United States to live permanently.

Even if you think illegal immigration is a good thing, and I do not, you can't possibly believe that paying for the health care of an ever-growing number of illegal aliens will reduce overall health-care costs.

Well, maybe if your name is Obama, you might believe that - or say you believe that. But one no else could.

Links to Other Topics in the Special Report: Universal Health Care

Cap & Trade (Carbon Tax) – Part 2 – The US Goes It Alone

In the 100 years from 1900 thru 1999 the average temperature of the Earth reportedly increased by 1.0 degree Fahrenheit.

Recently, the G8 would not agree to set carbon limits or time-tables. They did, however, agree to try to limit global warming to 3.7 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s 370 years worth of warming at the 20th Century rate of increase.

Some will retort that the 21st Century rate of warming will be higher, so far though, the 21st Century rate is negative – we’ve experienced global cooling since 1998.

China and India will have nothing to do with capping carbon emissions. Developed countries embraced the Kyoto Treaty early and then failed to keep it. They never met any of its targets or timetables though they spent a lot of money trying. It’s just too expensive and too anti-growth.

Spain has lost 2.2 jobs for every “green” job created by building wind turbines. Plus, every one of those “green” wind turbine jobs cost the Spanish government $1.4 million in subsidies.

Enron’s Key Lay, since indicted and deceased, was a strong, 1990’s, proponent of “cap and trade”. He said it could "do more to promote Enron's business than almost any other regulatory initiative.”

In addition, to being a potential bonanza for the next Enron, “cap and trade” is expected to cost as many as 2.3 million American jobs by raising the cost of doing business and pushing even more manufacturing overseas.

All this to achieve a miniscule 0.07 degrees Celsius supposed reduction in the Earth’s temperature by 2050, an amount too small to verify.

Economic Stimulus: Part 6 – Unintended Consequences

Where I live roads are being repaved early; years before they need to be. We received some “stimulus” money and we’re spending it.

Eventually, these roads would actually need repair. So, in a sense, the money is not being wasted. It’s just being spent early. Of course, value is lost because repaving early wastes the remaining value of the previous paving; it becomes a sunk cost. I’m sure VDOT knows what the sunk cost is.

Beyond the sunk costs there are now traffic jams where there were none before the repaving started. Now, I don’t know any of the details or costs of these projects. I’m just thinking and wondering so I’ll just make up some numbers to play with – let’s say 50 people are employed who wouldn’t be employed if not for the “stimulus” financed repaving projects. I think that estimate is ridiculously high, but I’m going with it just for the mental exercise.

So, if 50 people are employed for a year at $40,000 per year in total wages – again I’m just making up these numbers – then $2,000,000 in direct wages would be added to the local economy (plus the cost of material which would be spread out over the state economy and perhaps further).

$40,000 per person per year in wages equates to $19 per straight time hour (I’m rounding all of these numbers to the nearest whole dollar). If repaving related traffic jams reduce a person’s daily productivity by 10 minutes and the people in the traffic jams also earn $19 per hour then the value of the lost 10 minutes is $3.

If one person loses $3 per day in productivity and the repaving related traffic jams occur 250 days out of the year then the $2,000,000 in direct wages would be countered by the lost productivity of 2,496 people at 10 minutes each per day. It’s not a big stretch to believe that this could happen. Even if my fictional example overstates the effect by twice it still suggests that half of the direct wage portion of the “stimulus” might be totally ineffective. In fact, considering that people losing productivity in traffic jams are probably engaged in work that others are actually willing to pay for without the “stimulus” their $19 is probably more valuable to the real economy than the $19 earned by the paving workers.

Now, suppose someone is injured in a repaving related auto accident. One could coldly calculate that the cost of repairing the damaged vehicles adds to consumption, but more likely it just redirects consumption to the repairs from some other part of the economy. If someone is injured, however, their productivity could be impaired for weeks or months, or even the rest of their lives.

If two people suffered permanent loss of their productivity through injury or death and each effectively lost 25 productive years the $2,000,000 in direct “stimulus” wages would be counterbalanced; again assuming $40,000 per year in productive value per person injured; Not counting the possibility that a permanently injured worker could find himself on public assistance for the rest of his life. And not counting the possibility that his children may be unable to go to college, or to the college of their choice.

Like I said before, all of these numbers are made up. But I wonder if the value of the sunk cost of repaving early, plus the value of productivity lost in repaving related traffic, plus the productivity lost because of any repaving related auto accidents is really less than the “stimulus” money being spent; borrowed money that must be repaid by taxing our productivity

Links to Other Topics in the Special Report: Economic Stimulus

Pat Ryan Coleman

Wednesday we buried a dear friend. She was our miracle lady.

Twelve years ago or more she was dying with advanced diabetes and total kidney failure. She was on dialysis and her husband was engaged in adultery. Her situation seemed hopeless, but Pat Ryan Coleman was not hopeless. She was a woman of strong Christian faith and a powerful spirit.

I didn’t know her then. It was several years later after a kidney and pancreas transplant; after a messy divorce; and after a divorce recovery program that brought a special group of people together, that I first met Pat.

I was at a singles dance for the first time in twenty-five years and I was alone. I sat at an empty table in the front right corner of the room next to the D.J. watching the dancers on the floor. I didn’t know how to dance and it worried me. But my confidence increased as I watched. Most of the people on the floor didn’t know how to dance either. So, figuring that no one would notice I started working my way counter-clockwise around the room inviting women I didn’t know to dance with me. It was a bit scary, especially at first, but after the fourth or fifth dance I felt better. No one had laughed at me after all.

I continued working my way around the room inviting women to dance if they made eye contact with me. I danced with many but didn’t dance with anyone twice.

Near the front left corner of the room, directly opposite from where I’d started, I made eye contact with a pretty blond. As I approached her she smiled big and warm and agreed to dance with me.

We talked on the dance floor, of course, and she told me she was there with a group. She was friendly and warm and her name was Pat Coleman. I don’t know what got into me. It was totally out of character, but I asked Pat if I could join her group at their table. She was un-offended by my request and readily led me back to her table. She introduced me to her friends – all women that night. I soon learned that a number of single men were members of the group but they were not present.

I talked and dance with the three of them at the table. Off and on throughout the conversation Pat and her friends talked about “their leader,” Linda. The ladies said Linda organized and motivated them. I was curious about Linda and looked forward to meeting her.

I met Linda briefly that night but then she was immediately whisked back onto the dance floor.

There is a great deal more to this story than can be told. I was adopted into the group and it remains close after more than ten years and the deaths of two charter members. Linda became my wife and the love of my life.

Others, men and women, were later adopted into the group; some have paired off and married. One man adopted into the group became Pat’s special friend. Pat and Billy blessed each other’s lives for four years. We were happy for them.

My life was blessed by Pat Coleman and her smile. Pat is gone now. She and Roger are relocating our group to a new and better place. We’ll all eventually join them and see Pat smile again. In the meantime, we’ll periodically stop by Pat’s gravesite to let her know what’s going on with the group and to reassure her that we continue to care for her love, Billy.

Sarah Palin: Preparing for Battle

Did they hear the same speech I did?

Talking heads are abuzz over Sarah Palin’s resignation as Governor of Alaska effective at the end of July. They buzz that she is burned out; that she is quitting politics; that she is withdrawing from public life because of attacks from the socialist press and comics. Some buzz that her resignation may be the jumping off point for a 2012 Presidential campaign.

She and her family have been under attack alright. But I think she is unbelievably misunderstood. This woman is a fighter, a hunter, a life member of the NRA, a commercial fisherman, a committed Christian, and the mother of a special needs child. She battled her way to the Governor’s office and she might have dragged the unpopular John McCain across the finish line last year if the economy had not collapsed.

She is a lioness. Her children and her values and her integrity are under attack. What does a lioness do when her cubs are attacked?

Below are some direct quotes from the transcript of her resignation announcement.

“… it may be tempting and more comfortable to just keep your head down, plod along, and appease those who demand: “Sit down and shut up”, but that’s the worthless, easy path; that’s a quitter’s way out. And a problem in our country today is apathy. It would be apathetic to just hunker down and “go with the flow…”

“… only dead fish “go with the flow.”

“And there is such a need to BUILD up and FIGHT for our state and our country. I choose to FIGHT for it! And I’ll work hard for others who still believe in free enterprise and smaller government; strong national security for our country and support for our troops; energy independence; and for those who will protect freedom and equality and LIFE… I’ll work for and campaign for those PROUD to be American, and those who are INSPIRED by our ideals and won’t deride them.
I WILL support others who seek to serve, in or out of office, for the RIGHT reasons, and I don’t care what party they’re in or no party at all. Inside Alaska – or Outside Alaska.”

“My choice is to take a stand and effect change…”

“…we know we can effect positive change outside government at this moment in time, on another scale, and actually make a difference for our priorities – and so we will, for Alaskans and for Americans.”

“In fact, this decision comes after much consideration, and finally polling the most important people in my life - my children (where the count was unanimous… well, in response to asking: “Want me to make a positive difference and fight for ALL our children’s future from OUTSIDE the Governor’s office?” It was four “yes’s” and one “hell yeah!” The “hell yeah” sealed it…”

“I think much of it had to do with the kids seeing their baby brother Trig mocked by some pretty mean-spirited adults recently…”

“…we can ALL learn from our selfless Troops… they’re bold, they don’t give up, they take a stand and know that LIFE is short so they choose to NOT waste time. They choose to be productive and to serve something greater than SELF…”

“…we NEED hardworking, average Americans fighting for what’s right! And I will support you because we need YOU and YOU can effect change, and I can too on the outside.”

“We need those who will respect our Constitution where government’s supposed to serve from the BOTTOM UP, not move toward this TOP DOWN big government take-over… but rather, will be protectors of individual rights…”

“We are not retreating. We are advancing in another direction.”

Her kids said “yes” and “hell yeah!” This is a frontier family with guts, motivation, and determination. They may be course. They may not be polished speakers. They are unlikely to receive invitations to Manhattan cocktail parties – they’re even less likely to go if invited. But, they’re bold, they don’t give up, they take a stand and know that life is short so they choose to not waste time. They choose to be productive and to serve something greater than self.

Sarah Palin may or may not run for high public office in the future, but I expect Sarah to soon become one of the most effective opponents of Barack Hussein Obama and Nancy Pelosi. I expect her to attack like the lioness she is; defending her children, her state, and her country.

She told us that 80% of her time and that of her staff has lately been consumed defending against frivolous ethics charges plus $2,000,000 of public money and $500,000 of her own money. She has, then, been doing her job as Governor in only 20% of her time. She rightly said that Alaska is not being served properly under these conditions and, since it costs nothing to make frivolous ethics charges, Alaska can expect this situation to continue.

She wants Alaska to be properly served so she’s turning the Governor’s office over to another while she focuses. In the parlance of the old sail-powered navy, she is clearing the decks, she is preparing for battle. Sarah Palin without the responsibility, and the distraction, of running the state of Alaska, will be seen and heard quite a lot more in the coming months. I think we’ll see her on talk television, hear her on talk radio, see her at book signings, and during the 2010 Congressional campaign I think we’ll see her stumping for conservatives across the country.

Will Sarah Palin run for President in 2012? I don’t know and I don’t think she knows either. Running for President is not the point. She will go on offense. She will be a powerful voice for conservatism. And, unless others join with her on the field of battle, she may become the leader by default.

To paraphrase Japanese Admiral Yamamoto shortly after he orchestrated the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor - socialists will soon fear they have awakened a sleeping lioness – the smart ones already do.

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