I have been a bit slow to pick up on the arguments for overruling the Voting Rights Act. I always thought that voting was a right of every citizen and one that should be protected from acts of discrimination by the courts under constitutional grounds of equal protection.
Now I find that Shelby County Alabama wants to overturn a law passed by Congress and affirmed by 4 subsequent Congresses. The law is the Voting Rights Act.
And Shelby County's argument? That their sovereignty is harmed by this law.
In other words, Shelby County should be free to do whatever they want in regards to their conduct of elections. They want what I believe the constitution forbids and Congress has forbidden.
We will await a decision by the Supreme Court.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Why Both Parties Need to Educate the Voters with Facts
From the Pew Research Center
19% of the population wants only spending cuts.
76% want spending cuts and revenue increases with more spending cuts than revenue increases.
OK, a balanced approach until you get to the details, which is why both parties need to be honest with the voters.
49% want to increase spending on the world's needy. 48% decrease
60% want to increase spending on the State Department. 34% decrease
65% want to increase spending on the Unemployed. 32% decrease
73%...........increase.........on the military. 24% decrease
71% ............................on aid to the needy. 24% decrease
72%...........increase...............health care. 22% decrease
76% ....................................environment. 22% decrease
74%.....................................energy. 21% decrease
77%..................................science research. 20% decrease
76%..................................agriculture. 20% decrease
77%...................................anti-terrorism. 19% decrease
81%....................................infrastructure. 17% decrease
82%....................................medicare. 15% decrease
82%................................anti-crime. 14% decrease
83%................................food&drug. 14% decrease
84%.................................FEMA. 12% decrease
89%..................................education. 10% decrease
87%.................................social security. 10% decrease
91%..........increase..........Veteran's Benefits. 6% decrease
Is it any wonder the GOP's effort to starve the beast and get what they want has failed when there is so little popular support for cutting anything in detail? Clearly something needs to give and the only way for that to happen is for both political parties to educate the voters about reality and not go for the easy spin.
There are many places where this education process has gone off the rail, but the death knell in my opinion was the Death Panel hoop-de-doo during the passage of Obamacare. Now the GOP is committed to patients getting whatever care they need without question and their only solution is to give medicare to the private health insurance companies that have fostered the very things that are bankrupting the country.
It makes me as sick as Rush Limbaugh is. That is the first time I ever agreed with him.
19% of the population wants only spending cuts.
76% want spending cuts and revenue increases with more spending cuts than revenue increases.
OK, a balanced approach until you get to the details, which is why both parties need to be honest with the voters.
49% want to increase spending on the world's needy. 48% decrease
60% want to increase spending on the State Department. 34% decrease
65% want to increase spending on the Unemployed. 32% decrease
73%...........increase.........on the military. 24% decrease
71% ............................on aid to the needy. 24% decrease
72%...........increase...............health care. 22% decrease
76% ....................................environment. 22% decrease
74%.....................................energy. 21% decrease
77%..................................science research. 20% decrease
76%..................................agriculture. 20% decrease
77%...................................anti-terrorism. 19% decrease
81%....................................infrastructure. 17% decrease
82%....................................medicare. 15% decrease
82%................................anti-crime. 14% decrease
83%................................food&drug. 14% decrease
84%.................................FEMA. 12% decrease
89%..................................education. 10% decrease
87%.................................social security. 10% decrease
91%..........increase..........Veteran's Benefits. 6% decrease
Is it any wonder the GOP's effort to starve the beast and get what they want has failed when there is so little popular support for cutting anything in detail? Clearly something needs to give and the only way for that to happen is for both political parties to educate the voters about reality and not go for the easy spin.
There are many places where this education process has gone off the rail, but the death knell in my opinion was the Death Panel hoop-de-doo during the passage of Obamacare. Now the GOP is committed to patients getting whatever care they need without question and their only solution is to give medicare to the private health insurance companies that have fostered the very things that are bankrupting the country.
It makes me as sick as Rush Limbaugh is. That is the first time I ever agreed with him.
Are the Helfenstine's committing The Perfect Crime?
No, this is not a political comment.
I have become sick and tired of these anonymous calls offering to lower my credit card interest rate. I have tried to get my phone numbers removed and found the people to always just hang up on me and move on to the next one. Yes, my numbers are on the "Do Not Call List", but that doesn't seem to work on these people.
Today in The Haggler column in the NYT business section, we find out the depth of the problem in trying to reach these people who have figured out a way to use far off phone numbers, shell companies, and other forms of anonymity to commit fraud with no ready way to find them guilty of a crime.
Believe it or not, some people have fallen for these guys and paid them $1,000 or $2,000.
How do they do it? Well the column has not yet gotten to the bottom of it, but they did learn a few things. The person who was part of the fraud gave up a name of the company: Account Management Assistance ("AMA"). The phone number that started the trail was on a website called "800notes.com" and had a lot of complaints. The Haggle posted a note and invited people to contact him.
One woman who was defrauded out of $1,000 had a P.O. Box in Florida and had tried to get Florida's anti-fraud enforcers to help her. She also had the name of someone at AMA and a phone number to call him. When The Haggler tried to reach that person he was given the run around and when asked what company he had reached, was told Elephant, Inc and that they were in Hawaii.
The AMA does not have a website, and no existence beyond the P.O. Box. The Florida Better Business Bureau does a have record for AMA and shows it to be owned by another Florida company called Your Financial Ladder, and includes another company called Economic Progress. Economic Progress was created by someone known as Brenda Helfenstine. She and her husband Tony were sued by the Arkansas Attorney General, but it is not clear what became of that lawsuit. Since the Helfenstine's hide their identity, that may not even be there real names.
The Haggler's research found an address for them and a phone number, but phone calls were not answered nor returned after messages were left.
So The Haggler tried to prompt Florida consumer protection people to find the Helfenstine's. They did investigate a bit finding the address for one company was a residence with no evidence of a business being conducted there so they stopped. But The Haggler found out the address is where the Helfenstine's live. So Florida could at least start to investigate these people. There certainly is enough evidence for that. I don't know about a conviction. You would have to prove who ordered all those false phone numbers, PO Boxes, and any real incorporation documents.
That is why this may be the perfect crime. If you can hide everything under false names, how do the authorities come up with the hard evidence to convict. Right now, they seem so strapped for funds due to government financial woes, they cannot even investigate the crime.
As for the Helfenstine's, you are despicable human beings. I hope you rot in hell.
I have become sick and tired of these anonymous calls offering to lower my credit card interest rate. I have tried to get my phone numbers removed and found the people to always just hang up on me and move on to the next one. Yes, my numbers are on the "Do Not Call List", but that doesn't seem to work on these people.
Today in The Haggler column in the NYT business section, we find out the depth of the problem in trying to reach these people who have figured out a way to use far off phone numbers, shell companies, and other forms of anonymity to commit fraud with no ready way to find them guilty of a crime.
Believe it or not, some people have fallen for these guys and paid them $1,000 or $2,000.
How do they do it? Well the column has not yet gotten to the bottom of it, but they did learn a few things. The person who was part of the fraud gave up a name of the company: Account Management Assistance ("AMA"). The phone number that started the trail was on a website called "800notes.com" and had a lot of complaints. The Haggle posted a note and invited people to contact him.
One woman who was defrauded out of $1,000 had a P.O. Box in Florida and had tried to get Florida's anti-fraud enforcers to help her. She also had the name of someone at AMA and a phone number to call him. When The Haggler tried to reach that person he was given the run around and when asked what company he had reached, was told Elephant, Inc and that they were in Hawaii.
The AMA does not have a website, and no existence beyond the P.O. Box. The Florida Better Business Bureau does a have record for AMA and shows it to be owned by another Florida company called Your Financial Ladder, and includes another company called Economic Progress. Economic Progress was created by someone known as Brenda Helfenstine. She and her husband Tony were sued by the Arkansas Attorney General, but it is not clear what became of that lawsuit. Since the Helfenstine's hide their identity, that may not even be there real names.
The Haggler's research found an address for them and a phone number, but phone calls were not answered nor returned after messages were left.
So The Haggler tried to prompt Florida consumer protection people to find the Helfenstine's. They did investigate a bit finding the address for one company was a residence with no evidence of a business being conducted there so they stopped. But The Haggler found out the address is where the Helfenstine's live. So Florida could at least start to investigate these people. There certainly is enough evidence for that. I don't know about a conviction. You would have to prove who ordered all those false phone numbers, PO Boxes, and any real incorporation documents.
That is why this may be the perfect crime. If you can hide everything under false names, how do the authorities come up with the hard evidence to convict. Right now, they seem so strapped for funds due to government financial woes, they cannot even investigate the crime.
As for the Helfenstine's, you are despicable human beings. I hope you rot in hell.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
GOP Budget Failures (or another way of saying what has been said before)
Jonathan Chait gets this basic dynamic right:
What’s remarkable about the ability of anti-tax zealots like Ryan to sustain their position is that it places them in direct opposition to conservative goals on both defense and spending. After all, Obama is offering to cut spending on retirement programs and to cancel out cuts to defense — two things large chunks of the GOP would like — in return for more revenue. He’s not even demanding higher rates. He’s merely asking to reduce tax deductions.
Chait notes that this is an obstacle to any hopes for any GOP makeover:
Obama has been offering to reduce spending on Social Security and Medicare for two years now, in return for Republican agreement to spread the burden of the fiscal adjustment. They won’t take the deal…if Republicans want to reform their party’s identity and make it into something other than absolutist advocacy of low taxes for the rich, they need to come up with some negotiating position on fiscal issues other than “no tax hikes for the rich of any kind no matter what we get in return.”
Founding Father (or nearly) Quotes
James Madison
In the Federalist No. 58, James Madison warned that granting such power to the minority would undo the fundamental principle of free government, allowing the minority “to extort unreasonable indulgences.”
Henry Clay
Henry Clay, who was dubbed “The Great Pacificator.” Admired by Abraham Lincoln, he is widely considered one of the greatest senators in American history. Clay once said, “Government is a trust, and the officers of the government are trustees; and both the trust and the trustees are created for the benefit of the people.”
In the Federalist No. 58, James Madison warned that granting such power to the minority would undo the fundamental principle of free government, allowing the minority “to extort unreasonable indulgences.”
Henry Clay
Henry Clay, who was dubbed “The Great Pacificator.” Admired by Abraham Lincoln, he is widely considered one of the greatest senators in American history. Clay once said, “Government is a trust, and the officers of the government are trustees; and both the trust and the trustees are created for the benefit of the people.”
Economic Musings & Implication for Entitlements
The Economist this week summarized an amazing survey result.
"Suppose you had $100 in a savings account that paid an interest rate of 2% a year. If you leave the money in the account, how much money would you have accumulated after 5 years: More than $102, exactly $102, or less than $102?"
Only 50% of Americans over the age of 50 could answer that correctly. If 50% of Americans cannot answer that correctly, how can they manage to invest retirement assets? How can they manage to shop for healthcare as they age and mental capacity diminishes?
The GOP's continual push for privatization of social security and medicare does not fit with a population that does not have the mental capacity to manage the process well.
"Suppose you had $100 in a savings account that paid an interest rate of 2% a year. If you leave the money in the account, how much money would you have accumulated after 5 years: More than $102, exactly $102, or less than $102?"
Only 50% of Americans over the age of 50 could answer that correctly. If 50% of Americans cannot answer that correctly, how can they manage to invest retirement assets? How can they manage to shop for healthcare as they age and mental capacity diminishes?
The GOP's continual push for privatization of social security and medicare does not fit with a population that does not have the mental capacity to manage the process well.
WSJ Editorial Page Acknowledges Global Warming
I figure I should pull this out of another posting and shout it from the roof top.
In an editorial on another topic ( and I did pull it out of context, but the statement stands on its own),
the Saturday 2/19 Wall Street Journal Editorial page contained the following line written by the Editorial Board.
"We're all for studying the climate and doing what can be done within economic reason to cope with temperature changes."
For the record, The WSJ Editorial Board generally supports everything the GOP stands for today. They appear to be changing their minds about this topic.
In an editorial on another topic ( and I did pull it out of context, but the statement stands on its own),
the Saturday 2/19 Wall Street Journal Editorial page contained the following line written by the Editorial Board.
"We're all for studying the climate and doing what can be done within economic reason to cope with temperature changes."
For the record, The WSJ Editorial Board generally supports everything the GOP stands for today. They appear to be changing their minds about this topic.
Monday, February 18, 2013
The Keystone Pipeline Decision
It is better to pay Canada for the oil rather then pay anyone else for the oil because they do not spend the money on helping America's enemies (like the Middle East exporters) and they do not cozy up to our enemies like Venezuela does.
Another pipeline is not going to prevent any development of alternative energy. That will develop or not develop based upon its own economics and this pipeline will only replace other oil that would have been imported from somewhere else.
The pipeline will be no more polluting than any other pipeline, of which there are thousands of miles already in place through out the nation. We don't have an economy without these pipelines. We don't have gas heat, hot water or stoves without these pipelines.
This part of the midwest needs a pipeline to bring the oil down from North Dakota as well as Alberta.
Mr. Obama should approve the Keystone Pipeline.
Another pipeline is not going to prevent any development of alternative energy. That will develop or not develop based upon its own economics and this pipeline will only replace other oil that would have been imported from somewhere else.
The pipeline will be no more polluting than any other pipeline, of which there are thousands of miles already in place through out the nation. We don't have an economy without these pipelines. We don't have gas heat, hot water or stoves without these pipelines.
This part of the midwest needs a pipeline to bring the oil down from North Dakota as well as Alberta.
Mr. Obama should approve the Keystone Pipeline.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Evidence that the Old GOP was Balanced
The NY Times book review section reviewed 3 GOP Presidential biographies today.
Richard Nixon supported the Civil Rights Act of 1957 and was a personal friend of both Martin Luther King and Jackie Robinson. Nixon also argued that the GOP should remain the party of Lincoln on civil rights. Interestingly, Eisenhower disagreed with that.
And back to political philosophy. From a book review of another book on Lincoln. "Principle without compromise is empty; compromise without principle is blind."
And I will add one other point of my own. Science and statistical research used to be believed by all politicians. There is hard evidence that the earth was created billions of years ago. There is widespread evidence that our infrastructure is crumbling and moving beyond its designed years of use. There is statistical evidence that preschool makes a difference. And there is broad scientific evidence that higher levels of CO2 cause the air to warm and that CO2 levels in the atmosphere have risen.
Even the Wall Street Journal editorial page agrees with that last point. From Saturday 2/16/13 Editorial.
"We're all for studying the climate and doing what can be done within economic reason to cope with temperature changes."
Richard Nixon supported the Civil Rights Act of 1957 and was a personal friend of both Martin Luther King and Jackie Robinson. Nixon also argued that the GOP should remain the party of Lincoln on civil rights. Interestingly, Eisenhower disagreed with that.
And back to political philosophy. From a book review of another book on Lincoln. "Principle without compromise is empty; compromise without principle is blind."
And I will add one other point of my own. Science and statistical research used to be believed by all politicians. There is hard evidence that the earth was created billions of years ago. There is widespread evidence that our infrastructure is crumbling and moving beyond its designed years of use. There is statistical evidence that preschool makes a difference. And there is broad scientific evidence that higher levels of CO2 cause the air to warm and that CO2 levels in the atmosphere have risen.
Even the Wall Street Journal editorial page agrees with that last point. From Saturday 2/16/13 Editorial.
"We're all for studying the climate and doing what can be done within economic reason to cope with temperature changes."
Saturday, February 16, 2013
GOP Needs a Coherent Plan to Govern
My friend RedStateVT thinks I have become an inveterate liberal because I no longer find anyone in the GOP worth voting for. But that is the case because I do not trust the GOP to govern well. And that is a shame because the country needs a vibrant 2 party system.
Why do I not trust the GOP? Because they have subscribed to the political philosophy of John C Calhoun: political nullification. This is a theory of minority-interest democracy whereby the will of the majority is subordinated to the beliefs of the minority. In other words, destroy the ability of the government to govern. This policy was put into place by Bush II in an incoherent manner because it did not include any revenues to pay for the borrowed War on Terror while he cynically cut taxes and instituted an unfunded Medicare pharmaceutical benefit. In addition, following his belief that the private sector could be trusted to manage itself, he cut regulatory budgets by failing to fill open positions and let the mortgage sector run amok creating a systemic economic disaster devastating the lives of millions of baby boomers. Now the GOP advocates returning to that system by balancing the budget and paying for the limited government (even the hard right wants a strong national defense with effective border enforcement) by cutting spending for entitlements that we have all paid into and counted on for our retirement.
Now I know these entitlements need adjusting, but while some in the GOP know they need more revenues to be fair, the party is a prisoner of its Tea Party wing that believes in political nullification. They are not unique in following this. This is how Prohibition came to be and this is how the NRA has taken over the legislative process. And lest we forget. John Calhoun was a Congressman from South Carolina who led the desire for the new Western States to be slave states and, while he died in 1850, this path led to the Civil War whereby the South sought to continue slavery.
So, rightly or wrongly, in my mind a philosophy of political nullification has a direct link to support of slavery. It is also bad government
Obama and Boehner had the Grand Bargain agreed to. But Boehner could not deliver the votes because the nullifiers would not agree to it. Now we have had an election and there is a need for more compromise. The budget is not balanced and we need a plan to balance it. My belief is that should be 2/3's spending cuts and 1/3 revenues, but I would be prepared to negotiate the exact levels if I was involved in such a negotiation. But the nullifiers are preventing such a negotiation. They would not even agree to a 90% cuts 10% revenue package before the election which they lost; so the majority spoke that they wanted more balance.
Nullification is ineffective government because we are a government of the majority and the majority believes in such government. That is what elections are all about.
Nullification is also ugly. Witness Ted Cruz resorting to McCarthy like innuendos to stir up his base without even a shred of evidence that such accusations had a base in reality.
How can a moderate fiscal person with a conscience vote for a Party that is not serious about the business of governing?
I thank The New Republic for educating me on Nullification. The new New Republic is well worth subscribing to. RSL loves the back end where the arts are reviewed and I like the front end which generally looks at political issues in a factual manner.
Why do I not trust the GOP? Because they have subscribed to the political philosophy of John C Calhoun: political nullification. This is a theory of minority-interest democracy whereby the will of the majority is subordinated to the beliefs of the minority. In other words, destroy the ability of the government to govern. This policy was put into place by Bush II in an incoherent manner because it did not include any revenues to pay for the borrowed War on Terror while he cynically cut taxes and instituted an unfunded Medicare pharmaceutical benefit. In addition, following his belief that the private sector could be trusted to manage itself, he cut regulatory budgets by failing to fill open positions and let the mortgage sector run amok creating a systemic economic disaster devastating the lives of millions of baby boomers. Now the GOP advocates returning to that system by balancing the budget and paying for the limited government (even the hard right wants a strong national defense with effective border enforcement) by cutting spending for entitlements that we have all paid into and counted on for our retirement.
Now I know these entitlements need adjusting, but while some in the GOP know they need more revenues to be fair, the party is a prisoner of its Tea Party wing that believes in political nullification. They are not unique in following this. This is how Prohibition came to be and this is how the NRA has taken over the legislative process. And lest we forget. John Calhoun was a Congressman from South Carolina who led the desire for the new Western States to be slave states and, while he died in 1850, this path led to the Civil War whereby the South sought to continue slavery.
So, rightly or wrongly, in my mind a philosophy of political nullification has a direct link to support of slavery. It is also bad government
Obama and Boehner had the Grand Bargain agreed to. But Boehner could not deliver the votes because the nullifiers would not agree to it. Now we have had an election and there is a need for more compromise. The budget is not balanced and we need a plan to balance it. My belief is that should be 2/3's spending cuts and 1/3 revenues, but I would be prepared to negotiate the exact levels if I was involved in such a negotiation. But the nullifiers are preventing such a negotiation. They would not even agree to a 90% cuts 10% revenue package before the election which they lost; so the majority spoke that they wanted more balance.
Nullification is ineffective government because we are a government of the majority and the majority believes in such government. That is what elections are all about.
Nullification is also ugly. Witness Ted Cruz resorting to McCarthy like innuendos to stir up his base without even a shred of evidence that such accusations had a base in reality.
How can a moderate fiscal person with a conscience vote for a Party that is not serious about the business of governing?
I thank The New Republic for educating me on Nullification. The new New Republic is well worth subscribing to. RSL loves the back end where the arts are reviewed and I like the front end which generally looks at political issues in a factual manner.
Monday, February 11, 2013
Evangelical Rigidity
Last week I made a mental note of an article about a Newtown, CT pastor of a Lutheran Evangelical Church who was made to apologize to his National Organization for taking part in an interfaith service honoring the dead students and teachers.
Why did he have to apologize for taking part in an interfaith service? Because by doing so, he acknowledged that the other Pastors/Rabbai's/Priests/... have validity and religious souls. His brand of Religion believes and preaches that they are the only valid religion and all other religions are invalid.
My 1st reaction was to ask myself what happened the the world of my youth when everybody went about their practice of religion in private; and, in public, pretty much acknowledged that every religion was valid and you should respect the right of people to practice their faith in whatever manner they chose. Now, there is a strain of Evangelical Lutheran's that publicly believes any other religion is false.
My 2nd reaction was my father was a traditional Lutheran in the Scandinavian model and it was most definitely not Evangelical, and apparently, there is more than one type of Evangelical Lutherans so this one strain believes the other Lutheran churches are not valid. This all pretty much sounds crazy to me. If you believe in God, how could you believe that he would disavow anybody who follows another religion as opposed to your religion? How could you believe that your sect of Lutheran is the only valid one when you evolved out of the religion created by Martin Luther back in Germany during the Middle Ages and the other sects did likewise?
My 3rd reaction was this is part and parcel of our political stalemate. If Evangelicals are so rigid in something so private, this is why they are so rigid in their politics. They are the only ones who are correct and everyone else's views are invalid so there is no need to compromise.
I wish we could go back to the attitudes of the 1950's and 60's where all religious beliefs were respected. When one could be conservative in matters of personal responsibility, but open minded on issues of common good and the role of government. That is still where I am and I like to think of myself a modern person.
Why did he have to apologize for taking part in an interfaith service? Because by doing so, he acknowledged that the other Pastors/Rabbai's/Priests/... have validity and religious souls. His brand of Religion believes and preaches that they are the only valid religion and all other religions are invalid.
My 1st reaction was to ask myself what happened the the world of my youth when everybody went about their practice of religion in private; and, in public, pretty much acknowledged that every religion was valid and you should respect the right of people to practice their faith in whatever manner they chose. Now, there is a strain of Evangelical Lutheran's that publicly believes any other religion is false.
My 2nd reaction was my father was a traditional Lutheran in the Scandinavian model and it was most definitely not Evangelical, and apparently, there is more than one type of Evangelical Lutherans so this one strain believes the other Lutheran churches are not valid. This all pretty much sounds crazy to me. If you believe in God, how could you believe that he would disavow anybody who follows another religion as opposed to your religion? How could you believe that your sect of Lutheran is the only valid one when you evolved out of the religion created by Martin Luther back in Germany during the Middle Ages and the other sects did likewise?
My 3rd reaction was this is part and parcel of our political stalemate. If Evangelicals are so rigid in something so private, this is why they are so rigid in their politics. They are the only ones who are correct and everyone else's views are invalid so there is no need to compromise.
I wish we could go back to the attitudes of the 1950's and 60's where all religious beliefs were respected. When one could be conservative in matters of personal responsibility, but open minded on issues of common good and the role of government. That is still where I am and I like to think of myself a modern person.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Amazing, but Sad
This is a real life quote from a member of the House GOP.
"evolution, embryology and the Big Bang theory — all of that is lies straight from the pit of hell.”
And this guy is a medical Doctor!
I would be more supportive of vouchers for private schools if I knew for sure that schools were not teaching drivel like this. I'm beginning to believe that the U.S. is falling behind other countries in science and math, not because of underperforming schools in the inner city, but rather because of what is being taught in schools where curriculum is dominated by politics and religion rather than education.
And then there is this observation from someone I don't know, but can certainly agree with his aggravation. I hate taking my leather soled shoes off at the airport.
"One failed attempt at a shoe bomb, and we all take our shoes off at the airport. Thirty one school shootings since Columbine and no change in our gun regulations."
Sunday, February 3, 2013
3 Ways to Bend the Health Care Cost Curve
My sister in-law, a Doctor with a career in public health is visiting and we had a discussion today about what it would take to bend the health care cost curve to prevent it from bankrupting the country. She has a unique view on this having spent her career in public health in Appalachia, but living in city with high quality medical care.
1. Educate people about end of life care so intelligent decisions are made. Everyone should have a living will so desires are clear and people don't get thrown into the fee for service system when they are unable to make decisions and worthless care is provided because it will be reimbursed. Such service also keeps the hysterical daughter happy, so she doesn't sue, when Momma dies. There is also a culture of "do whatever it takes" to keep someone alive even when the odds of doing anything beyond extending a low quality life for a few days, weeks or months are the only possible outcome before death. That needs to change. For anyone interested in how to do this better, read The Best Care Possible by Ira Byock.
2. Educate poor people that when something is needed, go get it taken care of . Don't let it fester and become something worse and more expensive. There is a culture in the less wealthy reaches of the country that the Health Care system will fix me up when I need it. They don't get it taken care of when it might be simple and less expensive, they wait until it has to be taken care of. This might be because they don't have health insurance, or they cannot afford the co-pay, or they just simply cannot be bothered. More wealthy people know you get things taken care of early.
3. Work to reduce teen pregnancy. This is a problem of poverty which pervades the 1st two points. Teen pregnancy perpetuates poverty and added $11 billion to the taxpayer funded medical cost in 2008.
Each teen pregnancy funded by the public health care system costs the taxpayers between $25,000 and $30,000 depending upon the states.
Note: Nothing the GOP proposes in terms of introducing competition into Health Insurance addresses any of these issues. The For-Profit Health Insurance System created the Fee For Service system and does not work for anyone who does not get Health Insurance through employment. Obama Care puts in place programs that address all 3 of these issues, but much education will be needed to change the culture. You also need to address medical malpractice which stands behind Dr. acquiescence to hysterical poor daughters who would love to get rich off a malpractice suit for letting diabetic 250 lb Momma die.
1. Educate people about end of life care so intelligent decisions are made. Everyone should have a living will so desires are clear and people don't get thrown into the fee for service system when they are unable to make decisions and worthless care is provided because it will be reimbursed. Such service also keeps the hysterical daughter happy, so she doesn't sue, when Momma dies. There is also a culture of "do whatever it takes" to keep someone alive even when the odds of doing anything beyond extending a low quality life for a few days, weeks or months are the only possible outcome before death. That needs to change. For anyone interested in how to do this better, read The Best Care Possible by Ira Byock.
2. Educate poor people that when something is needed, go get it taken care of . Don't let it fester and become something worse and more expensive. There is a culture in the less wealthy reaches of the country that the Health Care system will fix me up when I need it. They don't get it taken care of when it might be simple and less expensive, they wait until it has to be taken care of. This might be because they don't have health insurance, or they cannot afford the co-pay, or they just simply cannot be bothered. More wealthy people know you get things taken care of early.
3. Work to reduce teen pregnancy. This is a problem of poverty which pervades the 1st two points. Teen pregnancy perpetuates poverty and added $11 billion to the taxpayer funded medical cost in 2008.
Each teen pregnancy funded by the public health care system costs the taxpayers between $25,000 and $30,000 depending upon the states.
Note: Nothing the GOP proposes in terms of introducing competition into Health Insurance addresses any of these issues. The For-Profit Health Insurance System created the Fee For Service system and does not work for anyone who does not get Health Insurance through employment. Obama Care puts in place programs that address all 3 of these issues, but much education will be needed to change the culture. You also need to address medical malpractice which stands behind Dr. acquiescence to hysterical poor daughters who would love to get rich off a malpractice suit for letting diabetic 250 lb Momma die.
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