Was talking to a medical insurance sales guy yesterday. He was telling me about a strong insurance company that had moved into AZ a few years ago. Since they had a great reputation in the mid-West, he put many of his clients in a policy with them; similar benefits and lower expense than Blue Cross-Blue Shield.
Now, the insurance company has pulled out of AZ because they couldn't make a profit here. Good capitalist decision, right? Not for the sick people who lost their insurance and now cannot get another one. Just another example of how we all get screwed by these insurance companies.
I'll bet a majority of the people on that company's policy were against the health care reform and I'll also bet that they are now for it. Nothing like personal experience to put things in proper perspective.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Various Ramblings
The Catholic Church has again found themselves in a bad light in regard to Priests and abuse of children. Now the story of the deaf boys in Wisconsin and the protected priest. Also, some revelations coming out of Europe - was the Pope involved before he was Pope? Stay tuned.
Got a tweet today from John McCain who said, "drill baby, drill." I guess he is pleased with the President for expanding off-shore drilling. I don't particularly care about the drilling, it is the continued dependence on crude oil that concerns me.
Saw a headline about 9 Christian Militia members and thought to myself, this can't be a good story. Christian Militia? Turns out some yahoos in the Michigan woods were plotting to kill a police officer so that they could blow up many people at a funeral and that this action would somehow set off a revolt against the U.S. government. These men must have gone to school in Detroit, the owner of the worst school system in America; what else could account for such flawed thinking? What is a Christian Militia?
The term for the U.S. government cutting out the banks from the student loan business is Direct Lending. DL has been in place for many years. Since the U.S. government pays the lenders when a student defaults, in other words takes 100% of the risk, the government might as well loan the money and make the interest. Good move, long over due, and hurts only the banks and some of its employees. I feel bad for the employees, but the banks making billions, yes billions, on U.S. tax payers, without any risk, is not good capitalism.
Immigration reform anyone? Time for congress and the President to figure out what to do with the 12 million illegal immigrants here in the U.S. and to solve the border problem. I personally like the idea of retina scans or something high tech like that for those here in the U.S. - I mean all of us. Not likely to go over too well - privacy and all of that. Jeez, people don't even want to fill out the census even if it is how resources get distributed to states.
Go Phoenix Coyotes!
Got a tweet today from John McCain who said, "drill baby, drill." I guess he is pleased with the President for expanding off-shore drilling. I don't particularly care about the drilling, it is the continued dependence on crude oil that concerns me.
Saw a headline about 9 Christian Militia members and thought to myself, this can't be a good story. Christian Militia? Turns out some yahoos in the Michigan woods were plotting to kill a police officer so that they could blow up many people at a funeral and that this action would somehow set off a revolt against the U.S. government. These men must have gone to school in Detroit, the owner of the worst school system in America; what else could account for such flawed thinking? What is a Christian Militia?
The term for the U.S. government cutting out the banks from the student loan business is Direct Lending. DL has been in place for many years. Since the U.S. government pays the lenders when a student defaults, in other words takes 100% of the risk, the government might as well loan the money and make the interest. Good move, long over due, and hurts only the banks and some of its employees. I feel bad for the employees, but the banks making billions, yes billions, on U.S. tax payers, without any risk, is not good capitalism.
Immigration reform anyone? Time for congress and the President to figure out what to do with the 12 million illegal immigrants here in the U.S. and to solve the border problem. I personally like the idea of retina scans or something high tech like that for those here in the U.S. - I mean all of us. Not likely to go over too well - privacy and all of that. Jeez, people don't even want to fill out the census even if it is how resources get distributed to states.
Go Phoenix Coyotes!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
The Party of Financial Responsibility
Right off let me say that I don't care if the Republican National Party holds events at a strip joint in CA where they simulate lesbian sex. Harmless really.
But, when you walk around and talk about morals, fiscal responsibility, family values, etc., it seems odd that the organized leaders of said group of moralists are spending donations on such activities. Their explanations are totally disingenuous.
I actually find the private jets and limos more offensive. As to the nice hotels, I have no problem but we don't know what else went into those bills. They go and charge everything to their room, thus no one knows for sure what comprised those enormous bills. Massages, excessive alcohol, porn movies, etc?
But, when you walk around and talk about morals, fiscal responsibility, family values, etc., it seems odd that the organized leaders of said group of moralists are spending donations on such activities. Their explanations are totally disingenuous.
I actually find the private jets and limos more offensive. As to the nice hotels, I have no problem but we don't know what else went into those bills. They go and charge everything to their room, thus no one knows for sure what comprised those enormous bills. Massages, excessive alcohol, porn movies, etc?
Friday, March 26, 2010
Not So Proud History
The history of the U.S is a violent one - from our overthrow of England to the internal civil war, the World Wars, and now various "conflicts" around the world.
We also have had times of internal strife which led to tragedies like Kent State, presidential assassinations, etc. So I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that "Tea Party" members and other disaffected right wingers are hurling epithets, stones, and bricks as well as shooting out windows of members of congress who voted to radically change the health care situation. Spitting on members of congress - really? Calling out racial slurs to members of congress - really? Is this the best they can do?
If these zealots need to act so juvenile, they should be throwing and shooting at the Republicans who controlled congress and the White House for 6 years and failed to do one thing to fix what was a glaring problem. Only if you are insulated by great wealth could you not notice the declining health care and insurance situation. The Republicans did nothing and the result is this huge bill that may or may not be for the best.
Personally I think it is better than allowing the status quo to continue. We shall see.
In the mean time, it is good to hear that Republican leaders do not condone such childish actions. However, they should also understand that if you use terms like Hitler, Saddam Hussein, and death panels in the public discourse, you will whip simple minded individuals into a frenzy resulting in brick throwing and shootings until someone gets seriously hurt or killed.
We also have had times of internal strife which led to tragedies like Kent State, presidential assassinations, etc. So I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that "Tea Party" members and other disaffected right wingers are hurling epithets, stones, and bricks as well as shooting out windows of members of congress who voted to radically change the health care situation. Spitting on members of congress - really? Calling out racial slurs to members of congress - really? Is this the best they can do?
If these zealots need to act so juvenile, they should be throwing and shooting at the Republicans who controlled congress and the White House for 6 years and failed to do one thing to fix what was a glaring problem. Only if you are insulated by great wealth could you not notice the declining health care and insurance situation. The Republicans did nothing and the result is this huge bill that may or may not be for the best.
Personally I think it is better than allowing the status quo to continue. We shall see.
In the mean time, it is good to hear that Republican leaders do not condone such childish actions. However, they should also understand that if you use terms like Hitler, Saddam Hussein, and death panels in the public discourse, you will whip simple minded individuals into a frenzy resulting in brick throwing and shootings until someone gets seriously hurt or killed.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
AZ Health Care - America's Health Care
Health care in AZ is in total disarray. Jan Brewer, like Obama, was given an economy in total chaos. However, unlike Obama, our Governor is saddled with a legislature that is only interested in reducing government, and with which she agrees.
She signed a bill last week which eliminates KidsCare and further reduces the number of insured by 300,000 Arizonans. She actually said that they will have to go to the emergency room for care. I cannot even believe the level of stupidity to which that falls.
On the federal or state level here is the truth: We have laws saying that people must be treated at an emergency room regardless of ability to pay. Period. Given that, and the alternative would make us the least civilized - civilized nation, we need to work together to get coverage for people that is more affordable.
If we the public are going to pay, we may as well pay for less expensive coverage than the emergency room. Because we are going to pay one way or the other, I prefer to pay a more direct amount. If we stick hospitals with the bill for more emergency services, then they will raise the rates for what they charge to the insurance companies which will be passed on in ever increasing premiums. Is there any doubt about that?
Also, the un-collectable emergency room bill is written off as bad debt, thus reducing the income of the hospital. In the for profit hospital, that means less taxes paid plus they raise the rate. There is absolutely no conjecture here. This is fact. People, poor and rich alike, get in accidents, contract diseases, and the medical community is going to get paid to deal with that. Again, this is fact.
I get why people are upset and worried - the government cannot run anything well. On the other side, the corporate world didn't do so well either. It is interesting that the Republican controlled congress from about 1994 to 2006 didn't do anything to fix this medical insurance nightmare - nothing. So it is disingenuous for them to say they have proposed solutions less onerous than this mammoth bill. Had they actually done that, we wouldn't be looking at this sweeping change.
Additionally, the Republicans ran rough shod over everyone by pushing so hard for these wars, not counting the cost against the deficit, giving tax breaks to themselves and other ultra wealthy and watched while millions of jobs left the country exactly as Ross Perot predicted in 1992.
In response, the moderate electorate kicked them out in 2006 and to the curb in 2008. The Democrats, not learning anything from the Republicans, have now ignored a growing dissent among the moderates and will no doubt lose seats. At least they know they will lose the seats and pushed ahead anyway. They will no doubt pray that the moderates forget who voted for what and count on time to assist them.
In the end though, when no death panels show up, and the donut hole in Medicare is filled, thus assisting our older set, the negative hype will slow down. For sure, the Republicans will try to dismantle some of it when they get in control, but the fundamental problem will still be addressed. That is those of us who cannot get insurance will be able to. Those who get sick won't get kicked off their plans for which the paid, etc.
Now I would love to see the Republicans take up tort reform - position it as a necessary add on to the just signed health reform. Push, push, push for this critical matter. They won't likely get it now, but if they get control of congress, they can keep it going and they will have a head start.
She signed a bill last week which eliminates KidsCare and further reduces the number of insured by 300,000 Arizonans. She actually said that they will have to go to the emergency room for care. I cannot even believe the level of stupidity to which that falls.
On the federal or state level here is the truth: We have laws saying that people must be treated at an emergency room regardless of ability to pay. Period. Given that, and the alternative would make us the least civilized - civilized nation, we need to work together to get coverage for people that is more affordable.
If we the public are going to pay, we may as well pay for less expensive coverage than the emergency room. Because we are going to pay one way or the other, I prefer to pay a more direct amount. If we stick hospitals with the bill for more emergency services, then they will raise the rates for what they charge to the insurance companies which will be passed on in ever increasing premiums. Is there any doubt about that?
Also, the un-collectable emergency room bill is written off as bad debt, thus reducing the income of the hospital. In the for profit hospital, that means less taxes paid plus they raise the rate. There is absolutely no conjecture here. This is fact. People, poor and rich alike, get in accidents, contract diseases, and the medical community is going to get paid to deal with that. Again, this is fact.
I get why people are upset and worried - the government cannot run anything well. On the other side, the corporate world didn't do so well either. It is interesting that the Republican controlled congress from about 1994 to 2006 didn't do anything to fix this medical insurance nightmare - nothing. So it is disingenuous for them to say they have proposed solutions less onerous than this mammoth bill. Had they actually done that, we wouldn't be looking at this sweeping change.
Additionally, the Republicans ran rough shod over everyone by pushing so hard for these wars, not counting the cost against the deficit, giving tax breaks to themselves and other ultra wealthy and watched while millions of jobs left the country exactly as Ross Perot predicted in 1992.
In response, the moderate electorate kicked them out in 2006 and to the curb in 2008. The Democrats, not learning anything from the Republicans, have now ignored a growing dissent among the moderates and will no doubt lose seats. At least they know they will lose the seats and pushed ahead anyway. They will no doubt pray that the moderates forget who voted for what and count on time to assist them.
In the end though, when no death panels show up, and the donut hole in Medicare is filled, thus assisting our older set, the negative hype will slow down. For sure, the Republicans will try to dismantle some of it when they get in control, but the fundamental problem will still be addressed. That is those of us who cannot get insurance will be able to. Those who get sick won't get kicked off their plans for which the paid, etc.
Now I would love to see the Republicans take up tort reform - position it as a necessary add on to the just signed health reform. Push, push, push for this critical matter. They won't likely get it now, but if they get control of congress, they can keep it going and they will have a head start.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Hmmm - What Does This Say About Us?
This is interesting. At least same sex marriages don't result in three legged offspring, etc.
Best Story in Sports (that most of you have never heard)
A few months ago it was announced that the Phoenix Coyotes were being sent into bankruptcy. Our NHL hockey team was then purchased by the NHL themselves. First a Canadian dude who owns Blackberry wanted to buy them and move them to Canada. Fortunately the NHL thought better.
They hired a real coach, Dave Tippett, severing ties with Wayne Gretzky, the greatest player ever to play, but not the greatest coach.
Now, they are making a huge run for the playoffs. Against all odds, a group of no-name players are on a 7 game winning streak and are poised to make a run in the playoffs.
The moral of the story is - the best of sports is when human will simply overcomes the distractions and shortage of talent. Wow.
Go Coyotes!
They hired a real coach, Dave Tippett, severing ties with Wayne Gretzky, the greatest player ever to play, but not the greatest coach.
Now, they are making a huge run for the playoffs. Against all odds, a group of no-name players are on a 7 game winning streak and are poised to make a run in the playoffs.
The moral of the story is - the best of sports is when human will simply overcomes the distractions and shortage of talent. Wow.
Go Coyotes!
Oh My
It was reported today that during the period of 2002 or so through 2008 employees of the U.S. government who were supposed to be regulating the banks were paid bonuses for their fine work. What?
Bankers get millions of dollar in bonuses, then and now, is egregious because they did a terrible job. They killed our economy. They should be in jail.
Bureaucrats who are supposed to the be first to see these problems getting a bonus is even more egregious. Totally unacceptable. While it happened under Bush's watch isn't hard to believe but I suspect that this kind of idiocy is still going on today.
We should be fired as citizens for allowing this crap to happen ad nauseum.
Bankers get millions of dollar in bonuses, then and now, is egregious because they did a terrible job. They killed our economy. They should be in jail.
Bureaucrats who are supposed to the be first to see these problems getting a bonus is even more egregious. Totally unacceptable. While it happened under Bush's watch isn't hard to believe but I suspect that this kind of idiocy is still going on today.
We should be fired as citizens for allowing this crap to happen ad nauseum.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Solar - Too Cool
About 5 miles from our home a new facility opened about 2 months ago. This solar field contains 60 of these discs. They track the sun, focus the rays on the odd shaped device you see up in the air, which puts energy equivalent to 13,000 suns to work heating hydrogen which in turn becomes electricity. No fuel other than sunlight.
This is the first field of its kind in the world - yes, the world. They are building more in China, Greece, and other places, including one more in the Phoenix area. These 60 discs power 80,000 homes in the Glendale and Peoria area. Wow.
This is the first field of its kind in the world - yes, the world. They are building more in China, Greece, and other places, including one more in the Phoenix area. These 60 discs power 80,000 homes in the Glendale and Peoria area. Wow.
Monday, March 8, 2010
A New Blog Series - Part Seven
Okay - final chapter - too depressing to think that the people featured in this series are making decisions that effect this country profoundly.
"While stocking its App Store with more than 100,000 iPhone applications in the space of 18 months, Apple let in some clunkers, but none were quite as mindless or repugnant as "Baby Shaker."
The object of the 99-cent "game" was to silence the bawling of an animated baby by shaking the iPhone until two red X's appeared over the infant's eyes.
"See how long you can endure his or her adorable cries before you just have to find a way to quiet the baby down," the instructions read.
Two days after it appeared, Apple removed the app and apologized for letting it through. The company has since tightened up its approval process and started weeding out some of the dumber items. But there are still plenty more where this one came from."
"While stocking its App Store with more than 100,000 iPhone applications in the space of 18 months, Apple let in some clunkers, but none were quite as mindless or repugnant as "Baby Shaker."
The object of the 99-cent "game" was to silence the bawling of an animated baby by shaking the iPhone until two red X's appeared over the infant's eyes.
"See how long you can endure his or her adorable cries before you just have to find a way to quiet the baby down," the instructions read.
Two days after it appeared, Apple removed the app and apologized for letting it through. The company has since tightened up its approval process and started weeding out some of the dumber items. But there are still plenty more where this one came from."
Just One Day in the Paper
As I am fond of writing, Phoenix is the 5th largest city in America. We have a large-circulation newspaper. Unlike most people, I still get the daily paper delivered 7 days per week. On days like Saturday, I wonder why I do this to myself.
Are there any ethics left in America? If not, we need to ask ourselves why that is so? I suspect that money, decaying morals, declining influence of religion, Mobile society, divorce, etc. are eroding the fabric. But, I digress......
From the AZ Republic in just one day:
Are there any ethics left in America? If not, we need to ask ourselves why that is so? I suspect that money, decaying morals, declining influence of religion, Mobile society, divorce, etc. are eroding the fabric. But, I digress......
From the AZ Republic in just one day:
- "The company that owns a tour bus that rolled over Friday on Interstate 10, killing six people, has a history of safety violations, no federal record of insurance and could not legally carry passengers in Arizona, The Arizona Republic has learned."
- New York Democratic Rep. Eric Massa, facing a harassment complaint by a male staffer, said Friday that he is stepping down from his seat with "a profound sense of failure."
"I am guilty," Massa said in an interview with a Corning, N.Y., newspaper columnist. - NEW YORK - A crane-company owner is expected to be charged with manslaughter in a 2008 accident that killed two workers as the top of a 200-foot-tall crane crashed down, a person with knowledge of the investigation said Friday.
James Lomma and his company, New York Crane & Equipment Corp., are expected to face charges as soon as next week in the May 2008 accident, according to the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation.
The charges would represent the first criminal fallout from the accident, which heightened fears about high-rise construction in the city. The giant rig collapsed and smashed into a Manhattan apartment building little more than two months after another crane - also owned by Lomma's company - collapsed elsewhere in Manhattan and killed seven people. - WICHITA, Kan. - A new federal indictment implicates a Kansas doctor and his wife in nine additional patient deaths, bringing to 68 the number of fatal overdoses the government contends are linked to illegal-prescription writing and a moneymaking conspiracy at their clinic.
- MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. - A 20-year-old college student accused Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger of sexually assaulting her at a nightclub early Friday during a night on the town near where he owns a lake home.
Unfortunately, there were a few others I could have added on as well. I just got sick of doing it. I should also say that Roethlisberger is only accused, not guilty -yet. However, this is the 2nd time in 9 months that this type of accusation has been made. If you are a young millionaire, high-profile athlete, you need to be aware of your surroundings and stay out of places that lend themselves to this type of thing.
At any rate, where are the ethics going in this country?
Thursday, March 4, 2010
A New Blog Series - Part Six
Any you wonder why GM is in the tank! As exciting as this is, this will be the last post since I am sure 2010 will bring new ridiculousness.
"Almost every executive at General Motors has spent his or her entire working life there, and some say that's part of the troubled automaker's problem.
That's why it seemed noteworthy when CEO Fritz Henderson announced in October that he would find an outsider to fill GM's top North American sales job.
But Henderson didn't seem to look too hard -- just a few hours later, he said he had given the job to Susan Docherty, a GM veteran of more than 20 years.
The automaker eventually looked outside its ranks for a CEO when it pushed Henderson out two months later. It hired GM chairman and former AT&T CEO Ed Whitacre, who has admitted in the past that he knows little about cars."
"Almost every executive at General Motors has spent his or her entire working life there, and some say that's part of the troubled automaker's problem.
That's why it seemed noteworthy when CEO Fritz Henderson announced in October that he would find an outsider to fill GM's top North American sales job.
But Henderson didn't seem to look too hard -- just a few hours later, he said he had given the job to Susan Docherty, a GM veteran of more than 20 years.
The automaker eventually looked outside its ranks for a CEO when it pushed Henderson out two months later. It hired GM chairman and former AT&T CEO Ed Whitacre, who has admitted in the past that he knows little about cars."
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Dogs Are Cool
Actually Laurie is the true dog lover, but I do like them as well. We have Lucy, a lovable, slightly neurotic Golden Retriever. At any rate, here is a collection of thoughts about dogs. They are not my thoughts per se.
- The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue. -Anonymous
- There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face. -Ben Williams (why do they do that any way?)
- A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself. -Josh Billings
- The average dog is a nicer person than the average person. -Andy Rooney
- If your dog is fat, you aren't getting enough exercise. -Unknown (the dog needs to take me on more walks)
- If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the principal difference between a dog and a man. - Mark Twain (I also like his quote about golf being a good walk ruined)
- If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then give him only two of them. -Phil Pastoret (truer words were never spoken!)
- Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole. -Roger Caras (maybe a bit sappy...sort of "you complete me" for dogs)
- My dog is worried about the economy because Alpo is up to $3.00 a can. That's almost $21.00 in dog money. -Joe Weinstein
Monday, March 1, 2010
I Could Not Believe My Eyes and Ears
Was waiting for the Olympics to come on TV on Sunday morning, specifically the hockey game (great game by the way) and was flipping through the channels. Yes, like most men I am an expert TV channel flipper.
I digress.....any way, I heard some talking heads discussing the 2012 presidential election and they were opining that Jeb Bush might make an attractive candidate. Have the Bush's not done enough already for our country? Not sure we can take much more.
Oh, and "no George, I don't miss you yet." Apparently there is a billboard somewhere with "W"'s picture, looking all deer-in-the-headlight-ish and asking if we miss him yet. Ugh.
Please tell me that the party has someone better than another Bush or Sarah Palin to put up in 2012. I fear not.
I digress.....any way, I heard some talking heads discussing the 2012 presidential election and they were opining that Jeb Bush might make an attractive candidate. Have the Bush's not done enough already for our country? Not sure we can take much more.
Oh, and "no George, I don't miss you yet." Apparently there is a billboard somewhere with "W"'s picture, looking all deer-in-the-headlight-ish and asking if we miss him yet. Ugh.
Please tell me that the party has someone better than another Bush or Sarah Palin to put up in 2012. I fear not.
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