Wednesday, 30 September 2009
How odd from Labour
Teenage parents to be put in supervised homes
A very sensible idea. If the tax payer must provide housing, let us provide it in a way that might help some of these kids. It is not a panacea, but it may get us more bang for our tax bucks than we get from just throwing them into a council house and saying: sink or swim kiddo.
And Parliamentary Pensions?
Headline vs story
Why are so many France Telecom workers dying?
Contrary to the headline, the article says
1) France Telecom's suicide rate is lower than the French norm
2) France Telecom's suicide rate is falling
Shouldn't the article ask why so few are dying? That is, what is France Telecom doing right that it's suicide rate is low and falling when compared to the nation as a whole?
Tuesday, 29 September 2009
Child abuse
Judge To Decide If 9-Year-Old Liberian Refugee Will Stand Trial In Arizona Rape
Trying any 9-year-old in a court of law is child abuse and should be a criminal offense.
Next we will be trying kids for bed-wetting: if you can't do the time, don't do the crime.
What has happened to society when a ruined child brings calls for retribution rather than rescue?
Trying any 9-year-old in a court of law is child abuse and should be a criminal offense.
Next we will be trying kids for bed-wetting: if you can't do the time, don't do the crime.
What has happened to society when a ruined child brings calls for retribution rather than rescue?
Slack reporting costs lives
Tragic lessons of a shameful saga
Also shocking incompetence by the press. Why was this case not reported years ago before lives were lost?
Also shocking incompetence by the press. Why was this case not reported years ago before lives were lost?
Lettre de Cachet
France condemns 'sinister' arrest of Polanski
"An extradition treaty between Washington and Berne obliged Switzerland to act, without question, on any arrest warrant issued by the US authorities"
I hold no brief for Polanski, but weren't a couple of revolutions fought against imprisonment on a government's simple say-so? And here I thought the Swiss guarded their freedom and neutrality so zealously. Shows how much I know.
"An extradition treaty between Washington and Berne obliged Switzerland to act, without question, on any arrest warrant issued by the US authorities"
I hold no brief for Polanski, but weren't a couple of revolutions fought against imprisonment on a government's simple say-so? And here I thought the Swiss guarded their freedom and neutrality so zealously. Shows how much I know.
Monday, 28 September 2009
Ending the Bonus Culture
Excessive bonuses to be banned in war on greed
So this will apply to footballers and tennis players: individual caps and claw-back from this year's payments if they have a losing season next year?? What about TV stars and musicians, can we claw back money if their ratings fall or their residuals don't meet expectations?
Finally, can we claw money back from Government Ministers if their programmes do not achieve the promised results?
Swayze’s character in Point Break was a compelling film role model
Agent Utah is more the model for today. A government official who commits armed robbery and felony murder, spends a year and untold public money chasing a personal vendetta, and then lets Bhodi choose his own fate because he knows him. For this, Agent Utah is not prosecuted and does not resign.
Agent Utah is more the model for today. A government official who commits armed robbery and felony murder, spends a year and untold public money chasing a personal vendetta, and then lets Bhodi choose his own fate because he knows him. For this, Agent Utah is not prosecuted and does not resign.
Minimum prices for alcohol would save lives, research finds
A minimum price per calorie would save many, many more lives.
Saturday, 26 September 2009
Make em grow up scared
Three-quarters of children don't know junk food could kill them
Actually, 4 out of 5 kids don't think anything can kill them. Can't we change that? Can't we enlist do-gooders to terrify and traumatise them to the point they grow up scared of eating, drinking, living and loving?
The Clintons' Enemies List (And Other Major Nuisances)
Well, Slick Willie and I may not agree on policy or morality, but he sure has journalists pegged right.
Experts: Pelosi Is Right To Fear Political Violence
Well, eventually she had to be right about something: even a blind hog finds an acorn now and again.
Friday, 25 September 2009
Equal Opportunity Commission?
1 in 4 primay schools has no male teachers
If this report said "1 in 4 primary schools have no female teachers" I suspect there would be a furore. Either way, it sounds like institutional sexism to me.
Why, why, why Delilah?
Terrence Blacker: All this fuss over a misdirected joke
Partly because the politically correct feel that honesty about feelings is only for one-on-one relationships and has no place in any public forum. But mostly because they had a radical sense-of-humour bypass 50 years ago.
Partly because the politically correct feel that honesty about feelings is only for one-on-one relationships and has no place in any public forum. But mostly because they had a radical sense-of-humour bypass 50 years ago.
Running from Afghanistan
Obama Finally Facing Reality in Afghanistan
PS: Contrary to this report, elite journalists are less "obsessed with how the game is played" and more obsessed with being able to say "I told you so" after the fact, Nothing annoys them more than the military or the government actually being right about anything.
We keep going into countries we don't understand, stuffing them, then running away because we keep ignoring the fact that many countries do not want freedom. Okay, the little people do, but the powers that run things do not. When a supporting army's goals run counter to the local power structure's goals, failure is inevitable. The reason that the Taliban have any success at all is because they empower have-nots that no local authority has any time for.
The reality: just put it in the too hard basket. America doesn't have the stomach to win a long-term conflict against both local government and its enemies, especially with the media at home deliberately trying to undermine every military effort at every turn. PS: Contrary to this report, elite journalists are less "obsessed with how the game is played" and more obsessed with being able to say "I told you so" after the fact, Nothing annoys them more than the military or the government actually being right about anything.
Tuesday, 22 September 2009
Sorry?
Leading article: Europe needs to face up to the migration challenge
"Demolishing squatter camps and turning back boats of desperate people are not policies" ?
Just because you don't agree with them, doesn't mean they are not policies.
They may not be sufficient policies, but there is nothing wrong with them as a part of a set of immigration policies that encourage legal immigrants and stop illegal ones. Any other course says: "desperate people, feel free to break whatever laws you choose." It goes on to say: "legal immigrants, you guys are suckers."
"Demolishing squatter camps and turning back boats of desperate people are not policies" ?
Just because you don't agree with them, doesn't mean they are not policies.
They may not be sufficient policies, but there is nothing wrong with them as a part of a set of immigration policies that encourage legal immigrants and stop illegal ones. Any other course says: "desperate people, feel free to break whatever laws you choose." It goes on to say: "legal immigrants, you guys are suckers."
A Third Way
Leading article: Hoist by her own petard
Instead of resigning or carrying on without honour, Baroness Scotland might publicly start a campaign to repeal the law. I could get behind a minister who said: "Now that I see the effect of my law, I realise how stupid it is and how stupid I was to support its passage."
Baroness Scotland to keep job despite illegal worker fine
Let's see, wasn't the "I didn't know" defence used somewhere else? Poland, Russia, Germany?
Instead of resigning or carrying on without honour, Baroness Scotland might publicly start a campaign to repeal the law. I could get behind a minister who said: "Now that I see the effect of my law, I realise how stupid it is and how stupid I was to support its passage."
Baroness Scotland to keep job despite illegal worker fine
Let's see, wasn't the "I didn't know" defence used somewhere else? Poland, Russia, Germany?
Monday, 21 September 2009
Let them eat cake
EU drops demand for ban on commercial bluefin tuna fishing
If we can make great money selling the last of our foodstocks to the Japanese, then who cares about the children.
Johann Hari: Collapse or survive: the stark choice facing our species
Sorry, Johann. If we can make a good profit on coal and bluefin tuna, why should we worry about species collapse? 1) It'll happen to someone else. 2) There are far too many people anyway, we can afford to lose 10 or 20%. 3) Very interesting technologies and social adaptations will develop to deal with a hundred million starving refugees: it'll be fun to watch. 4) Most of us are too busy blaming someone else for the problem; we've no time to do anything ourselves.
If we can make great money selling the last of our foodstocks to the Japanese, then who cares about the children.
Johann Hari: Collapse or survive: the stark choice facing our species
Sorry, Johann. If we can make a good profit on coal and bluefin tuna, why should we worry about species collapse? 1) It'll happen to someone else. 2) There are far too many people anyway, we can afford to lose 10 or 20%. 3) Very interesting technologies and social adaptations will develop to deal with a hundred million starving refugees: it'll be fun to watch. 4) Most of us are too busy blaming someone else for the problem; we've no time to do anything ourselves.
Now, Children, Behave!
PM insists 'no snub' as Obama spurns one-to-one
"British officials pointed out that the President was not due to hold talks with the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, or the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, either."
"British officials pointed out that the President was not due to hold talks with the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, or the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, either."
Climate Change
Climate Change Requires a Real Movement
The problem: too many people wanting to live too well.
The solution: fewer people or lower standard of living.
Choose.
The problem: too many people wanting to live too well.
The solution: fewer people or lower standard of living.
Choose.
Friday, 18 September 2009
Obama: Strong on Defense but weak on diplomacy
U.S. To Shelve Bush's Nuclear-Missile Shield
Technically and financially, it's the right move. But some of our eastern European allies, who had to spend serious political capital to get their countries to accept this US project, may be a lot slower to trust America in the future.
Silly Remedies
Insurance Company Must Pay $10 Million For Revoking Policy Of Teen With HIV
Actually, the insurance company didn't pay a dime: other policy holders paid $10 million.
That'll lower health care costs, won't it?
Actually, the insurance company didn't pay a dime: other policy holders paid $10 million.
That'll lower health care costs, won't it?
Thursday, 17 September 2009
Old Man Racism
Race row erupts over Carter claim (The Independent)
Jimmy Carter is an old man who grew up and cut his political teeth in the racist deep south. Of course he sees the entire world though racialist eyes and all black-white interaction is judged by him on racialist grounds. To Carter, and most liberals of his generation (born in the 20s), anything bad said about a black person by a white person is racist.
Fewer of the baby boomers (Joe Wilson's generation and mine, born in the 40s) see the world in these terms, though still a significant minority. Even Barack Obama's generation (born in the 60s) has a fair smattering of these dinosaurs, though most who feel this way will try to conceal it. In the next generation (those born after 1980), Americans who see the world in solely terms of race are dwindling to a radical fringe.
The epitome of 1920s-generation racialist thinking was Hitler's 3rd Reich and the reaction to this kind thinking goaded America to pass civil rights legislation. But, because the entire world view was still racialist, we achieved little real change until Joe Wilson's generation became a battle ground for the hearts and minds. Reaction to this battle allowed Obama's generation to wake up and see that race did not matter quite so much, and led to most of the current generation seeing race as only occasionally relevant.
The problem with letting Carter's generation lead the debate on racial issues is that their world view is worse than not helpful today and, so, their comments do more harm than good.
Wilson's "you lie" was not code for "you black". It was code for "you disagree with me, therefore you are evil." Sadly, this narrow-minded polarization is a disease seeded in Joe's (and my) generation that has grown through each successive one. It's epitome is 9/11 and the suicide bomb. If Carter's comments are unhelpful, verging on the harmful; Wilson's were incendiary, verging on the lethal. Joe did not intend this when he spoke, his was merely an expression of the Zeitgeist.
So both Carter and Wilson, as Pink Floyd used to say: "All in all, you're just another brick in the wall."
Jimmy Carter is an old man who grew up and cut his political teeth in the racist deep south. Of course he sees the entire world though racialist eyes and all black-white interaction is judged by him on racialist grounds. To Carter, and most liberals of his generation (born in the 20s), anything bad said about a black person by a white person is racist.
Fewer of the baby boomers (Joe Wilson's generation and mine, born in the 40s) see the world in these terms, though still a significant minority. Even Barack Obama's generation (born in the 60s) has a fair smattering of these dinosaurs, though most who feel this way will try to conceal it. In the next generation (those born after 1980), Americans who see the world in solely terms of race are dwindling to a radical fringe.
The epitome of 1920s-generation racialist thinking was Hitler's 3rd Reich and the reaction to this kind thinking goaded America to pass civil rights legislation. But, because the entire world view was still racialist, we achieved little real change until Joe Wilson's generation became a battle ground for the hearts and minds. Reaction to this battle allowed Obama's generation to wake up and see that race did not matter quite so much, and led to most of the current generation seeing race as only occasionally relevant.
The problem with letting Carter's generation lead the debate on racial issues is that their world view is worse than not helpful today and, so, their comments do more harm than good.
Wilson's "you lie" was not code for "you black". It was code for "you disagree with me, therefore you are evil." Sadly, this narrow-minded polarization is a disease seeded in Joe's (and my) generation that has grown through each successive one. It's epitome is 9/11 and the suicide bomb. If Carter's comments are unhelpful, verging on the harmful; Wilson's were incendiary, verging on the lethal. Joe did not intend this when he spoke, his was merely an expression of the Zeitgeist.
So both Carter and Wilson, as Pink Floyd used to say: "All in all, you're just another brick in the wall."
Strike Motives
Postal workers vote on national strike
Postal workers seem motivated by greed and self-interest, much like our MPs and their expenses, our bankers and their bonuses.
Postal workers seem motivated by greed and self-interest, much like our MPs and their expenses, our bankers and their bonuses.
Beating Obesity
Doctors press for 'cola tax' in bid to fight child obesity
It's easy, just mandate a minimum food price of 1p per calorie.
Welfare can't be much worse
Is it time the benefits system was subject to a complete overhaul?
The current schemes pay an incentive to become dependent, to breed and to not contribute, so overhaul is long overdue. I like the sound of "work credit" rather than "unemployment benefit". On the other hand, "life credit" does not sound like a change - paying people to be alive seems the same old incentive to breed and do nothing.
Re: Can't be much worse
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
living_fossil wrote: Thursday, 17 September 2009 at 10:22 am (local)So you'd have those not capable of work starve?
had_it wrote: No one is incapable of work, unless they are beng fed through a tube. Some people may not be capable of work that pays them enough to live on and, if so, I am willing to subsidise the difference. They give a little, I give a little.
The only ones I would have starve are those who want a free ride. (Well, no, we all want a free ride sometimes - I'd let starve those who demand or think they have a right to a free ride.)
The only ones I would have starve are those who want a free ride. (Well, no, we all want a free ride sometimes - I'd let starve those who demand or think they have a right to a free ride.)
Wednesday, 16 September 2009
It's not about civility
House Rebukes Wilson for Shouting ‘You Lie’ [NYT]
"In a mainly party line vote of 240 to 179, the House held...."
It's about Dumbocrats and Retroblicans scoring points off each other. Will these idiots ever learn that we elected them to get a job done, not to see who is better in a playground slanging match?
"In a mainly party line vote of 240 to 179, the House held...."
It's about Dumbocrats and Retroblicans scoring points off each other. Will these idiots ever learn that we elected them to get a job done, not to see who is better in a playground slanging match?
Left-wing facism
Hey nanny, ho nanny, nanny nanny hey
Let's make more laws that tell people they must live the way we want them to.
Why stop at studies or fines: let's make high heels a criminal offense.
New York Eyes ‘No Smoking’ Outdoors, Too
Let's make more laws that tell people they must live the way we want them to.
Why stop at studies or fines: let's make high heels a criminal offense.
This works for me.
As long as they simultaneously ban the consumption of alcohol and anything with any amount of sugar in it.
Keep our cake!
And the TUC response?
"Okay, you can cut some things, as long as it is not us or our things. PS: please keep spending more than you make - what are our children and grandchildren for, if not to pay for our lifestyle"
Surprise, surprise
'Shocking' sickness rates in social work
Over-work soft-hearted people, on tasks that have serious consequences for their clients (up to and including life-or-death), then under-pay them so they can barely afford any healthy escape. And they get stressed out and sick? Who'd a thunk it?
Over-work soft-hearted people, on tasks that have serious consequences for their clients (up to and including life-or-death), then under-pay them so they can barely afford any healthy escape. And they get stressed out and sick? Who'd a thunk it?
No Change please, were conservatives
Climate change will damage your health
So it pretty well comes down to: the climate must be kept exactly as it is at this precise moment in time, or the sky will fall. One degree warmer or one degree cooler will spell the end of the world as we know it, Jim.
So it pretty well comes down to: the climate must be kept exactly as it is at this precise moment in time, or the sky will fall. One degree warmer or one degree cooler will spell the end of the world as we know it, Jim.
Well, Doh?
Johann Hari: The fashion industry imposes a cruel burden on women
The industry is run by gay men who don't like women much. What did you expect to happen?
The industry is run by gay men who don't like women much. What did you expect to happen?
Tuesday, 15 September 2009
Racist Nonsense
Double Fault: Serenas's Loss of Serenity Reveals Both Race and Gender Bias
Absolutely! If a white male had told a smallish woman to "take this effing ball and stick it up your effing..." we would all have said: "Oh, he's white and male - that's all right, then. " While I am certain that there is both race and gender bias, this is NOT and example thereof. Michael, you weaken the case against such bias when you try to pretend that it is. Shame on you!
Yes! There is a god.!
Michael Moore: I May QUIT Documentaries
Oh, wait a minute - if Moore quits documentaries, who will we get to take interviewees out of context to support an agenda of deliberate lies?
A women's Jihad
In response to yet another article on a woman's lot in Afghanistan
(http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/kabul-parliaments-anger--over-release-of-journalist-1787341.html) a blogger suggested one of my pet ideas: a women's jihad. My response:
(http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/kabul-parliaments-anger--over-release-of-journalist-1787341.html) a blogger suggested one of my pet ideas: a women's jihad. My response:
Tough position to be in
In Islam, it is the will of Allah that should decide all political questions, not the will of human beings. When those in power are convinced that they know what Allah wills better than you do, you are left with little wiggle room. A woman's jihad - or even a fatwa or two - is a great idea, but (as there are no female imams or mullahs) who will you get to proclaim it?
Kennedy and the Soviets
Forbes has a piece on an old Russian memo about Teddy Kennedy.
http://www.forbes.com/2009/08/27/ted-kennedy-soviet-union-ronald-reagan-opinions-columnists-peter-robinson.html
It seems either a failed attempt by Kennedy, an unauthorised dream of Tunney's, a CIA tempt-feeler or a nice bit of disinformation by Andropov & Co. Don't suppose we will ever know for certain, but I suspect each reader will choose based on their prior opinion of the man.
Teddy: self-aggrandising, cowardly and irresponsible - yet totally committed to public service and doing quite a lot of good along with some real evil. A man to hate for some; a man to love for others. Humans are so annoyingly complex. Wouldn't life be easier if we were all either Hitler or Ghandi?
http://www.forbes.com/2009/08/27/ted-kennedy-soviet-union-ronald-reagan-opinions-columnists-peter-robinson.html
It seems either a failed attempt by Kennedy, an unauthorised dream of Tunney's, a CIA tempt-feeler or a nice bit of disinformation by Andropov & Co. Don't suppose we will ever know for certain, but I suspect each reader will choose based on their prior opinion of the man.
Teddy: self-aggrandising, cowardly and irresponsible - yet totally committed to public service and doing quite a lot of good along with some real evil. A man to hate for some; a man to love for others. Humans are so annoyingly complex. Wouldn't life be easier if we were all either Hitler or Ghandi?
Abuse of Cosby
Here is a new viral email. Much as I like Bill Cosby’s ideas on personal responsibility, this manifesto seems a bit infantile and self-defeating. I think it unlikely HE wrote this – I suspect someone far less intelligent put it out over his name to steal some of his credibility and star power.
I HAVE DECIDED TO BECOME A WRITE-IN CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT IN THE YEAR 2012.. HERE IS MY PLATFORM:
(1). Any use of the phrase: 'Press 1 for English' is immediately banned. English is the official language; speak it, go to language school or wait outside of our borders until you can. Great idea!
(2). We will immediately go into a two year isolationist attitude in order to straighten out the greedy big business posture in this country. America will allow NO imports, and we'll do no exports. We will use the 'Wal-Mart 's policy, 'If we ain't got it, you don't need it.' We'll make it here and sell it here! Of course this will result in a depression worse than ’29, as every export-based business fails and millions lose their jobs
(3).. When imports are allowed, there will be a 100% import tax on it coming in here. Doubling the price of most consumer goods and a large portion of capital goods, thus deepening the depression mentioned above. Good way to stimulate hyper-inflation, though.
(4). All retired military personnel will be required to man one of the many observation towers located on the southern border of the United States (six month tour). They will be under strict orders not to fire on SOUTHBOUND aliens. Not a bad idea, though it still won’t make a secure border (as the
(5). Social Security will immediately return to its original state. If you didn't put nuttin in, you ain't gettin nuttin out. Neither the President nor any other politician will be able to touch it. Bit of a dislocation that will further deepen the depression, but not unfair.
(6). Welfare. -- Checks will be handed out on Fridays, at the end of the 40 hour school week, the successful completion of a urinalysis test for drugs, and passing grades. Will the urinalysis requirement extend to checks for farm & steel subsidies, bank & car bailouts, tax rebates, medicare payments, research grants and other similar handouts?
(7). Professional Athletes -- Steroids? The FIRST time you check positive you're banned from sports ... for life. Same for any pain-killers used to improve a hurt player‘s performance
(8). Crime - We will adopt the Turkish method, i.e., the first time you steal, you lose your right hand. There is no more 'life sentences'. If convicted of murder, you will be put to death by the same method you chose for the victim you killed: gun, knife, strangulation, etc. A bit more barbaric than Sharia law, but not unfair. Will cheating on income tax forms be considered theft? What about using an empoyer’s telephone for private calls?
(9).. One export of ours will be allowed: wheat; because the world needs to eat. However, a bushel of wheat will be the exact price of a barrel of oil. This will make our wheat competitors (
(10). All foreign aid, using American taxpayer money, will immediately cease and the saved money will help to pay off the national debt and, ultimately, lower taxes. When disasters occur around the world, we'll ask The American People if they want to donate to a disaster fund, and each citizen can make the decision as to whether, or not, it's a worthy cause. Who will run the disaster fund?
(11). The Pledge of Allegiance will be said every day at school and every day in Congress. Great Idea!
(12). The National Anthem will be played at all appropriate ceremonies, sporting events, outings, etc. Great Idea! (Will those who don’t play it go to prison camps?)
My apology is offered if I've stepped on anyone's toes ..... nevertheless. .....
GOD BLESS
Sincerely, Bill Cosby
Monday, 14 September 2009
HR3200
I received the email below from a conservative friend and it made me actually read the American Health Care Reform bill. The sender's original is in Black, my comments in Blue
Seglember 10. 2009 at 11:52 am
As a result, the President and his plan are in deeper trouble than before he spoke. The battle lines are
drawn between increased government control over health care and any other idea that stands in the
way of that objective." ABSOLUTELY!!! I for one, do NOT like being lied to. It was lie after lie after lie.
I READ THE BILL, HR32OO. YOU CANNOT ARGUE WITH FACTS. But you can distort them?
* PG22 MANDATES the Govemment will audit books of ALL EMPLOYERS that self-insure!!
Oh, no! Do we want accountability? Shouldn’t we just take their unsupported word. No employer would ever lie, would they? PS: This section mandates a study, not comprehensive audit. I suspect a sample of under 10%.
* PG 24 Section 116 Government effectively sets prices for ALL private health plans.
No, it will only set price ranges for those wanting to enter a central exchange –plans outside of the exchange can charge what they like
* PG 30 Section 123 THERE WILL BE A Govemment COMMITTEE that decides what treatments/benefits you get.
Untrue. This committee will recommend MINIMUM benefits i.e. will mandate that you cannot be offered LESS than X or Y.
* PG 37 Ltne 132 The Government will be reviewing grievances about themselves and will decide on appeals for rejected claims. And who decides on appeals now? PS: This section merely mandates that plans in the exchange must have grievance procedures that pass a fairness test.
* PG 29 Line 4-16 YOUR HEALTHCARE IS RATIONED!!!
I find nothing on PAGE 29 that says that!
PS: My health care isn’t rationed, but those less well off than I (i.e. with a worse insurance plan) have their healthcare rationed today. We hope those on the public option will also be rationed – otherwise we will be paying for IVF, boob and nose jobs for the indigent.
* PG 42 The Health Choices Commissioner will choose your HealthCare Benefits for you. You have no choice!
False. This merely says the HCC will set minimum standards for those plans that wish to enter the exchange.
* PG 50 Line 152 HealthCare will be provided to ALL non-US citizens, illegal or otherwise.
Nothing on PAGE 50 or in section 152 that says that!
PG 58 Government will have real-time access to individuals' finances They already DO -- but all this section gives real-time access to is an individual’s entitlements, for the purpose of real-time resolution of his claim
- a National ID HealthCare Card will be issued! ABOUT TIME
PG 59 Line2l-24 Government will have direct access to your bank accounts for electronic funds transfer!
Nothing on PAGE 59 says that! It mandates that plans participating in the exchange OFFER their customers electronic funds transfer.
* PG 62 Protection of Data, Government shows they will have database of your personal & financial info. No, this section does not show any such thing. PS: the government already has you on their database anyway.
* FG64 L2l-25,pg65 L 1-5 which refers to processing payment transactions by financial institutions
Just gives minimum standards of payment processing for those participating in the exchange
* pG 65 Line 164 ii a payoff subsidized plan for retirees and their families in Unions & community organizations (ACORN). A system by which private companies get subsidized for not dumping all their older members onto medicare. Saves the taxpayer money.
* PG 72line 8-14 Government is creating a HealthCare Exchange to bring private HealthCare plans under Government control. No, it is being created to give the consumer more choices than they have now.
* pG 84 Line 203 Government mandates ALL benefit packages for private. HealthCare plans in the Exchange.
This only mandates minimum standards for health care plans in the exchange – just as they do for auto insurance today. Companies who do not participate in the exchange will not be required to meet even these low standards.
* pG Stline 7 Specs for of Benefit Levels for Plans: The Government will ration your HealthCare!
#AARP members your Health care will be rationed. Totally False
* pG 89 Line 6-lO The FAR is not applicable. Government can write contracts any way they want.
What is the FAR? Which health care plans use it now?
* pG 95 Line 8-18 The Gov. will use groupt i.e., ACORN & Americorps to sign up individuals for Government HealthCare Plan. Nothing in this section says that! However, it does say that these organizations can let people know about the exchange and what choices are available to them
* pG 98 Line 8 Americans - You will be paying for others' HealthCare while paying for your own.
You already do that now (e.g Medicaid, Medicare, emergency room treatment for indigents, Blue Cross, etc)
PS: Paying for other’s healthcare while paying for your own it is what health insurance – public or private – is all about
* PG 109 Line 207 Health Trust Fund. The Government will raise taxes on EVERYONE to fund HealthCare as they see fit. No. It raises taxes on deadbeats who refuse to buy their own insurance or who provide substandard insurance to their employees.
* pG 110 Line l-i2nmployment taxes on ALL employers NOT offering Government HealthCare-
No choice. False: It raises taxes on employers who provide substandard insurance to their employees.
* pG 110 Line 13-18 An excise tax on ALL goods from companies not offering Government HealthCare. ALL Americans PaY. FALSE: only on those offering substandard health insurance plans
* pG 110 Line 19-24 the Trealury can take $$ from Soc Line to pay HealthCare. Treasury can always take any money not appropriated for something else and apply it as it sees fit. See most other government bills.
* pG I 11 Line 208 The Federal Government will usurp all State powers in State Based HealthCare
Exchange. Violation of 10th Amendment. False. It says States can operate their own exchanges if, and only if, they are as good as the federal one. If they are substandard, the citizens of that state can avoid getting screwed by using the federal one. (See the Interstate Commerce clause)
* PG 12 1 Line 223 PAYMENT RATES FOR ITEMS AND SERVICES. Can you say Govemment price fixing & monopoly? Wrong. This fixes prices for the public option – just as private options fix their prices. The alternative would be to let providers charge whatever they want – something Humana or Blue Cross would never allow.
* PG 124 Line24-25 No company can sue Government on price fixing. No'Judicial review" against Government Monopoly. Blue Cross price fixing is also not subject to judicial review. PS: There is no government monopoly and the proposed public option would be lucky to get a 10% market share..
* PG 126 Line 10-15 The Government can make up prices for anything at anytime for any reason. As can any health insurance plan. No doctor or hospital is required to accept these rates. They can decline to participate, as many do.
* PG 170 Line 1-3 Any NONRESIDENT Alien is exempt from individual taxes. (Americans will pav) FALSE. It says people who are not resident in the US do not have to pay if they have insurance where they live instead of in the USA
* PG 195 officers & employees of HealthCare Administration (Govemment) will have access to ALL Americans financial/personal records. No. It says if you are making $200K a year and say you are only making $20k, they can check your tax records (which they already have) to test your claim.
* PG 202-215 is a Govemment rewrite of the tax code ensuring more taxes for EVERYONE, Everywhere.
Possibly, but so is every government bill that talks about taxes. I promise you, no matter what happens, taxes will not go down for the next 10 years.
* PG 239 Line 14-24 Government will reduce physician services for Medicaid. Seniors, low income, poor affected.
False! Nothing in this section says that!
* pC Z:g-Z 49 Line 1121 Doctors-Govemment mandates your growth, costs, value, services, & income. Welcome to rationing crap. Says, if they want to play, pprovidera can’t keep raising prices without improving services forever.
* PG 328 Line 1157 Government study disguised. It's a HealthCare workforce study mandated by law for unionization. This relates to Medicare only, which is already paid for by the government
* PG 354 Line 1177 Govemment wiII RESTRICT enrollment of Special needs people! False. Nothing in this section about Medicare and Medicaid says that!
* PG 425 Lines 4-12 Govemment mandates Advance Care Planning Consult. Think Senior Citizens
end of life. It mandates that practitioners MUST tell seniors what is going on and what is likely to happen for the next 5 years. No more stringing people along from day to day.
* pG425 L22-25, 426 Ll-3 Government provides approved list of end of life resources, guiding you in death.
Sets minimum standards – any practitioner is free to provide better services, but none may offer worse ones.
* PG 427 Lines 15-24 Government mandates program for orders for end of life. The Government has
a say in how your life ends. Like Teri Schaivo? Is this a Republican bill? Actually, it sets minimum standards only – says end of life people can’t be screwed.
* pG 430 Lines 11-15 The Government will decide what level of treatment you will have at end of life.
Well, at least it will set a minimum – rather than let providers give whatever care they like, regardless of how sub-standard.
* pG 494-498 Government will cover Mental Health Services including defining, creating, rationing those services. Horrors again! They are requiring that mental health counselors have college degrees and that a physican (a real doctor) be involved at some point. Shouldn’t my aunt Mabel be allowed to charge health insurance companies for using her crystals to improve the mental health of the gullible?
* PG 502 Section 1181 Center for Comparative Effectiveness Research Established. - Hello Big
Brother - Literally. Oh no! The government is going to fund research? Won’t the sky fall? Won’t the Russian Commies take over? What? The government already funds lots of research and the Russians aren’t commie anymore? Oh! Well, never mind, then.
* pG 711 Lines ti-t+ tft" Secretary has broad powers to deny HealthCare providers/suppliers admittance into HealthCare Exchange. Really? How horrible! Shouldn’t any Tom, Dick or Harry be able to set up a Madoff Health insurance scheme and be admitted immediately?
* pG 735 lines l6-25 For law enforcement purposes, the Secretary of Health & Human Services will give Attorney General access to ALL data. Nothing in this section says that!
* pG 765 Section 1711 Government will require Preventative Services including vaccines. (Choice?) No, it will require health insurance plans, if they want to be in the exchange, must pay for these things if you want to have them.
* pg 768 Section 1713 Govemment - Nurse Home Visitation Services (Hello union paybacks) Horrors! No health insurance scheme should be allowed to pay for visitors to the sick or elderly. If they don’t have any relatives, let them eat cake.
* pilSg 3-5 Nurse Home Visit Services - "increasing birth intervals between pregnancies." Government ABORTIONS anYone? Horrors again! Teenagers should be allowed to have babies every 9 or 10 months without some idiot doctor or nurse telling them it is bad for their health.
* pg769 |I-l4Nurse Home Visit Services include-economic self-sufficiency, employment advancement, school-readiness Horrors again! If the sick can’t get out of bed on their own, they should just lie there.
* pg770 SEC 1714 Federal Government mandates eligibility for State Family Planning Services. Say abortion & State Sovereign. Oh no! If states want to offer really bad service they should be allowed to – once a state decides to offer family planning service, there should be no minimum standard.
* pg7g9-797 Government will set & mandate drug prices, controlling which drugs will be brought to market. Bye innovation The section is for Medicaid Managed Care only and says that states have to report the rebates they get from pharmaceutical companies. Outrageous! Shouldn’t rebates and kickbacks be kept secret?
* pG 1001 The Government will establish a National Medical Device Registry. Will you be tracked? This registry will track how effective a device is. Can they do that? Shouldn’t I be allowed to sell any healthcare device I like without anyone bothering me about whether it works or not?
* pG 1003 9-11 National Medical Device Registry "(iii) other post-market device surveillance activities" you WILL be tracked. Well, at least whether the device you were sold actually works will be tracked. Horrors! After we have already bought something, the last thing we want to hear is that it didn’t work 85% of the time, Ignorance is bliss.
* PG 1018 States give up some of their State Sovereignty' There is no page 1018
AND ON AND ON. OSAN,{A LIED, HE IS A LIAR. HE WON',T QUIT LYING. I would prefer to think that the author of this diatribe is merely mistaken, not that he is a deliberate liar.
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http://publicplanl-acts.o rgl2009l09lhomhs-dr-goldberg-responds-to-presidents-health-care-speech/ 9na12009
I would, but this is not a valid URL.
I did finally find the website and discovered this wasn’t written by Dr Goldberg, but is a blog post by a certain “sandoz”. I think this is the name/nickname of a person, rather than the large pharmaceutical company - a Novartis subsidiary
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Oh no! Don't touch those! We only cut the pensions of others because, after all, it is the money of other's that we spend - and we find it better spent on us than on them.