Ayn Rand and Socialized Medicine
"its plot revolves in a crucial way around the compulsory “administration” of healthcare, doctors, and even the dispensing of medicine, by bureaucrats mired in corruption, favoritism, envy, revenge, power lust. It can become an acquired taste, the lust for power to decide whether a person lives or dies.its plot revolves in a crucial way around the compulsory “administration” of healthcare, doctors, and even the dispensing of medicine, by bureaucrats mired in corruption, favoritism, envy, revenge, power lust. It can become an acquired taste, the lust for power to decide whether a person lives or dies."
Fascinating!
Friday, August 21, 2009
As Vets Suffer, VA Staff Get $24M Bonuses
As Vets Suffer, VA Staff Get $24M Bonuses
"Thousands of Employees Receive Big Bucks While Wounded Veterans Face Financial Hardship, Reports Show"
"Thousands of Employees Receive Big Bucks While Wounded Veterans Face Financial Hardship, Reports Show"
Lawyers Showed Photos of Covert CIA Officers to Guantanamo Bay Detainees
Lawyers Showed Photos of Covert CIA Officers to Guantanamo Bay Detainees
"The Justice Department recently questioned military defense attorneys at Guantanamo Bay about whether photographs of CIA personnel, including covert officers, were unlawfully provided to detainees charged with organizing the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, according to sources familiar with the investigation.
Investigators are looking into allegations that laws protecting classified information were breached when three lawyers showed their clients the photographs, the sources said."
This is our new america under Obama.
"The Justice Department recently questioned military defense attorneys at Guantanamo Bay about whether photographs of CIA personnel, including covert officers, were unlawfully provided to detainees charged with organizing the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, according to sources familiar with the investigation.
Investigators are looking into allegations that laws protecting classified information were breached when three lawyers showed their clients the photographs, the sources said."
This is our new america under Obama.
Most Michigan state government offices closed Friday for furlough
Closed!
"Most state government offices are closed Friday, the fifth of six unpaid furlough days for 37,400 employees intended to save the state $21.7 million."
It isn't the "pay" that's killing our state it's the benefits and ridiculous retirement packages.
"Most state government offices are closed Friday, the fifth of six unpaid furlough days for 37,400 employees intended to save the state $21.7 million."
It isn't the "pay" that's killing our state it's the benefits and ridiculous retirement packages.
Anger Grows Over Hero’s Welcome for Libyan Convict
"British and Scottish officials joined the United States on Friday in criticizing the way Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi, the only person convicted in the 1988 Lockerbie bombing, was welcomed home in Tripoli, Libya, as a hero late Thursday after the Scottish government ordered his early release from prison on compassionate grounds."
The Bush administration would never have let this happen!
And now BOTH countries express shock?
A pox on all their heads!
The Bush administration would never have let this happen!
And now BOTH countries express shock?
A pox on all their heads!
Death panel in Oregon NOW!
"The “Death Panels” get liberals hackles up more than the thought of “rationing” healthcare.
But let’s be real.
Given limited resources and government funding, at some point your healthcare will be the subject of a cost/benefit analysis by a government bureaucrat.
Now here’s the funny thing: it is already happening.
We posted on this earlier, but the clip over 3 minutes and 30 seconds.
For those of you who have radio shows, etc. and want to run this, I’ve pared down this news story to a manageable 1 minute and 28 second segment.
You can easily catch what’s going on — a lady’s doctor recommends she get medical treatment. The state run healthcare system says no and refers her to an assisted suicide specialist.
The bureaucrat in charge of what amounts to a real death panel admits that the money could be better spent elsewhere, so the patient is going to have to die.
It is an inevitable fact of life that the more the government outlays to keep you alive, the more your life becomes subject to a cost/benefit analysis.
Here’s the audio/video proving death panels are, in fact, real:"
click the link in the article to see the video..... very chilling!
But let’s be real.
Given limited resources and government funding, at some point your healthcare will be the subject of a cost/benefit analysis by a government bureaucrat.
Now here’s the funny thing: it is already happening.
We posted on this earlier, but the clip over 3 minutes and 30 seconds.
For those of you who have radio shows, etc. and want to run this, I’ve pared down this news story to a manageable 1 minute and 28 second segment.
You can easily catch what’s going on — a lady’s doctor recommends she get medical treatment. The state run healthcare system says no and refers her to an assisted suicide specialist.
The bureaucrat in charge of what amounts to a real death panel admits that the money could be better spent elsewhere, so the patient is going to have to die.
It is an inevitable fact of life that the more the government outlays to keep you alive, the more your life becomes subject to a cost/benefit analysis.
Here’s the audio/video proving death panels are, in fact, real:"
click the link in the article to see the video..... very chilling!
Honest Debate Needed on End-of-Life Talk
Honest Debate Needed on End-of-Life Talk
"We also have to tell the defenders of the notorious Section 1233 of H.R. 3200 that it is not quite as benign as they pretend. To offer government reimbursement to any doctor who gives end-of-life counseling -- whether or not the patient asked for it -- is to create an incentive for such a chat.
What do you think such a chat would be like?
Do you think the doctor will go on and on about the fantastic new million-dollar high-tech gizmo that can prolong the patient's otherwise hopeless condition for another six months?
Or do you think he's going to talk about -- as the bill specifically spells out -- hospice care and palliative care and other ways of letting go of life?"
"We also have to tell the defenders of the notorious Section 1233 of H.R. 3200 that it is not quite as benign as they pretend. To offer government reimbursement to any doctor who gives end-of-life counseling -- whether or not the patient asked for it -- is to create an incentive for such a chat.
What do you think such a chat would be like?
Do you think the doctor will go on and on about the fantastic new million-dollar high-tech gizmo that can prolong the patient's otherwise hopeless condition for another six months?
Or do you think he's going to talk about -- as the bill specifically spells out -- hospice care and palliative care and other ways of letting go of life?"
700 0f 796 "new" jobs not really new!
The report also revealed that through the end of June that stimulus money created or saved 796 jobs, with 700 of those state workers who did not have to get laid off thanks to the federal grants, Fitch said.
Federal highway money accounted for 75 jobs and weatherization programs kept or added 16 to the payroll, he added
All of these "new" jobs for only $16.1 million!
When are we gonna see a "cash for crotchety seniors" program?
Just pay us "money" to go away.....
Federal highway money accounted for 75 jobs and weatherization programs kept or added 16 to the payroll, he added
All of these "new" jobs for only $16.1 million!
When are we gonna see a "cash for crotchety seniors" program?
Just pay us "money" to go away.....
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Refuting Obama Lies About "Lies"
Refuting Obama Lies About "Lies"
"RUSH: Let's get into some of these lies, or Obama refuting the lies.
We won't be able to go through all of this but we'll get a good start here."
"RUSH: Let's get into some of these lies, or Obama refuting the lies.
We won't be able to go through all of this but we'll get a good start here."
Canadians visit U.S. to get care
Canadians visit U.S. to get care
"Hospitals in border cities, including Detroit, are forging lucrative arrangements with Canadian health agencies to provide care not widely available across the border.
Agreements between Detroit hospitals and the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care for heart, imaging tests, bariatric and other services provide access to some services not immediately available in the province, said ministry spokesman David Jensen.
The agreements show how a country with a national care system -- a proposal not part of the health care changes under discussion in Congress -- copes with demand for care with U.S. partnerships, rather than building new facilities.
Michael Vujovich, 61, of Windsor was taken to Detroit's Henry Ford Hospital for an angioplasty procedure after he went to a Windsor hospital in April. Vujovich said the U.S. backup doesn't show a gap in Canada's system, but shows how it works.
'I go to the hospital in Windsor and two hours later, I'm done having angioplasty in Detroit,' he said. His $38,000 bill was covered by the Ontario health ministry."
"Hospitals in border cities, including Detroit, are forging lucrative arrangements with Canadian health agencies to provide care not widely available across the border.
Agreements between Detroit hospitals and the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care for heart, imaging tests, bariatric and other services provide access to some services not immediately available in the province, said ministry spokesman David Jensen.
The agreements show how a country with a national care system -- a proposal not part of the health care changes under discussion in Congress -- copes with demand for care with U.S. partnerships, rather than building new facilities.
Michael Vujovich, 61, of Windsor was taken to Detroit's Henry Ford Hospital for an angioplasty procedure after he went to a Windsor hospital in April. Vujovich said the U.S. backup doesn't show a gap in Canada's system, but shows how it works.
'I go to the hospital in Windsor and two hours later, I'm done having angioplasty in Detroit,' he said. His $38,000 bill was covered by the Ontario health ministry."
'We are God's partners in matters of life and death' - Ben Smith - POLITICO.com
'We are God's partners in matters of life and death'
"We are God's partners in matters of life and death," Obama said, according to Moline (paging Sarah Palin...), quoting from the Rosh Hashanah prayer that says that in the holiday period, it is decided "who shall live and who shall die."
"We are God's partners in matters of life and death," Obama said, according to Moline (paging Sarah Palin...), quoting from the Rosh Hashanah prayer that says that in the holiday period, it is decided "who shall live and who shall die."
Pension reform, school choice, deunionize government.
"All of a sudden, government officials are noticing the enormous amount of unfunded liabilities – i.e. debt – that future taxpayers are on the hook to pay for to make good on all the unreasonable guaranteed pension promises that officials have made to government workers. In Orange County, government workers can retire in their 50s with 80 percent or more of their final year's pay guaranteed forever. Some can retire with more than their final pay after they take advantage of the many pension-spiking gimmicks."
Health Insurers Fear Probe By House Dems Is Reprisal for Opposing Part of Obama's Plan
Health Insurers Fear Probe By House Dems Is Reprisal for Opposing Part of Obama's Plan
"In a move some fear is a reprisal for opposing President Obama's health care plan, Democrats sent 52 letters to health insurers requesting financial records for a House committee's investigation.
Reps. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., and Bart Stupak, D-Mich., sent a letter warning health insurers that the House Energy and Commerce Committee is 'examining executive compensation and other business practices of the health industry.'
Waxman, chairman of the committee, and Stupak, chairman of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee did not inform their Republican counterparts of their plans."
"In a move some fear is a reprisal for opposing President Obama's health care plan, Democrats sent 52 letters to health insurers requesting financial records for a House committee's investigation.
Reps. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., and Bart Stupak, D-Mich., sent a letter warning health insurers that the House Energy and Commerce Committee is 'examining executive compensation and other business practices of the health industry.'
Waxman, chairman of the committee, and Stupak, chairman of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee did not inform their Republican counterparts of their plans."
The View From North Central Idaho - Did we just win?
The View From North Central Idaho
"We were a little surprised to win the battle on carry in National Parks and we almost won a battle for nationwide reciprocity we couldn't have imagined even coming up for a vote had we thought about it after the election last November. But the enemy was still putting up resistance and we thought they were still formidable opponents. Then they collapsed. The White House (or Red Shed as a commenter recently called it) said it was no big deal to open carry. Public opinion is affected by statements from the White House. Having the most anti-gun administration in U.S. history say it's no big deal to open carry is huge."
"We were a little surprised to win the battle on carry in National Parks and we almost won a battle for nationwide reciprocity we couldn't have imagined even coming up for a vote had we thought about it after the election last November. But the enemy was still putting up resistance and we thought they were still formidable opponents. Then they collapsed. The White House (or Red Shed as a commenter recently called it) said it was no big deal to open carry. Public opinion is affected by statements from the White House. Having the most anti-gun administration in U.S. history say it's no big deal to open carry is huge."
Mayor Nutter Warns The Court System May Suffer If The City Does Not Get A Sales Tax Increase
Mayor Nutter Warns The Court System May Suffer If The City Does Not Get A Sales Tax Increase
"Philadelphia's court system will face a 'virtual shutdown' if the cash-strapped city does not get state approval for a sales tax increase and changes to how it makes its pension payments."
"Philadelphia's court system will face a 'virtual shutdown' if the cash-strapped city does not get state approval for a sales tax increase and changes to how it makes its pension payments."
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Ensign: I did nothing 'legally wrong'
Ensign: I did nothing 'legally wrong'
"Sen. John Ensign told The Associated Press on Wednesday that his affair with a friend's wife was a mistake but not as bad as former President Bill Clinton's relationship with a White House intern because he didn't lie about it under oath.
'I haven't done anything legally wrong,' the Nevada Republican said."
True... not illegal....vote the slut out of office!
"Sen. John Ensign told The Associated Press on Wednesday that his affair with a friend's wife was a mistake but not as bad as former President Bill Clinton's relationship with a White House intern because he didn't lie about it under oath.
'I haven't done anything legally wrong,' the Nevada Republican said."
True... not illegal....vote the slut out of office!
Climate Change department keep air-conditioning rather than open windows
Climate Change department keep air-conditioning rather than open windows
"Plans to switch off the air-conditioning and instead open windows at the Department for Energy and Climate Change have been scrapped after staff complained about the noise."
"Plans to switch off the air-conditioning and instead open windows at the Department for Energy and Climate Change have been scrapped after staff complained about the noise."
Tuition: 4-Year Universities vs. 2-Year Colleges
"tuition has increased annually at both levels of higher education much higher than the rate of inflation (7.7% for 4-year universities and 6.6% for two-year colleges vs. inflation of 4.3%), the growth in tuition at 4-year universities has increased by more than a full percentage point on average each year since 1976.
It also appears that annual tuition increases at both 4-years and 2-years were pretty similar up until about the mid-1990s, and then tuition started increasing faster at 4-year universities than at 2-year colleges."
It also appears that annual tuition increases at both 4-years and 2-years were pretty similar up until about the mid-1990s, and then tuition started increasing faster at 4-year universities than at 2-year colleges."
GE seeks support for GE-minded politicians
Green Hell Blog
"General Electric’s political action committee (GEPAC) issued the following letter to GE employees soliciting contributions so that it can support politicians who make money for the company, including with respect to the Waxman-Markey climate bill, financial services reform and military spending."
"GE, we bring good things to life..... er......friendly politicians"
"General Electric’s political action committee (GEPAC) issued the following letter to GE employees soliciting contributions so that it can support politicians who make money for the company, including with respect to the Waxman-Markey climate bill, financial services reform and military spending."
"GE, we bring good things to life..... er......friendly politicians"
Michigan jobless rate dips slightly to 15 percent
Michigan jobless rate dips slightly to 15 percent
"Michigan's unemployment rate edged down slightly to 15 percent in July.
The seasonally adjusted rate announced Wednesday on a state Web site is below the 15.2 percent jobless rate posted in June.
But Michigan is likely to keep the dubious honor of having the nation's highest rate.
Michigan has led the nation for 26 of the past 27 months."
Is this tiny drop in the unemployment rate proof of the success of the Jenny/Obama stimulus plan...... or is it the result of U-Hauls racing out of Michigan, taking our most employable residents to other states?
What do you think?
"Michigan's unemployment rate edged down slightly to 15 percent in July.
The seasonally adjusted rate announced Wednesday on a state Web site is below the 15.2 percent jobless rate posted in June.
But Michigan is likely to keep the dubious honor of having the nation's highest rate.
Michigan has led the nation for 26 of the past 27 months."
Is this tiny drop in the unemployment rate proof of the success of the Jenny/Obama stimulus plan...... or is it the result of U-Hauls racing out of Michigan, taking our most employable residents to other states?
What do you think?
Haworth to add 500 jobs at its Holland campus by next year, after closing Calgary plant
http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2009/08/haworth_to_add_500_jobs_at_its.htmlP
"The plant consolidation will eliminate 600 jobs at the Calgary plant. Haworth will keep 100 workers there in its showroom and offices.
Today, Michigan's Economic Growth Authority was expected to approve a 13-year, $22.4 million tax incentive deal to underwrite the move."
This is the perfect reason why our state is bankrupt!
No competitive company will be able to compete with Haworth in Michigan so every new job will go to other states or countries.
And our state needs corporate tax dollars yet we are forgoing them ($22.4 million) to play this charade of future jobs.
We're doomed.... until we wake up.....
"The plant consolidation will eliminate 600 jobs at the Calgary plant. Haworth will keep 100 workers there in its showroom and offices.
Today, Michigan's Economic Growth Authority was expected to approve a 13-year, $22.4 million tax incentive deal to underwrite the move."
This is the perfect reason why our state is bankrupt!
No competitive company will be able to compete with Haworth in Michigan so every new job will go to other states or countries.
And our state needs corporate tax dollars yet we are forgoing them ($22.4 million) to play this charade of future jobs.
We're doomed.... until we wake up.....
Outbursts at Frank's Town Hall
"Rep. Barney Frank lashed out at protester who held a poster depicting President Barack Obama with a Hitler-style mustache during a heated town hall meeting on federal health care reform."
Rumblings of a shutdown?
Rumblings of a shutdown?
"The Detroit News is reporting that a growing number of observers say the likelihood of a shutdown is increasing because the Republican-controlled Senate, the Democrat-dominated House and the Democratic governor are far apart on budget proposals.
In 2007, a budget stalemate forced state government to shut down for a few hours. The new budget under discussion would take effect Oct. 1."
Seriously, how scary is this... for us?
I'm thinking, "not at all".
Shut the state down for a month in January! Oh yeah!
The real fear is the state employees who would be "outed" if they were disappeared and no one noticed!
"The Detroit News is reporting that a growing number of observers say the likelihood of a shutdown is increasing because the Republican-controlled Senate, the Democrat-dominated House and the Democratic governor are far apart on budget proposals.
In 2007, a budget stalemate forced state government to shut down for a few hours. The new budget under discussion would take effect Oct. 1."
Seriously, how scary is this... for us?
I'm thinking, "not at all".
Shut the state down for a month in January! Oh yeah!
The real fear is the state employees who would be "outed" if they were disappeared and no one noticed!
Double-Standard on Anti-ObamaCare "Mobs"
Double-Standard on Anti-ObamaCare "Mobs"
With President Obama and congressional liberals facing loud protests over their big government health care plan, journalists are casting the anti-ObamaCare forces as “ugly,” “unruly,” “nasty” mobs, with reporters presenting the most odious images (like pictures of Obama drawn as Hitler) as somehow representative.
But when President George W. Bush faced left-wing protests, the media scrubbed their stories of radical voices and depicted demonstrators as mainstream, and even “prescient.”
With President Obama and congressional liberals facing loud protests over their big government health care plan, journalists are casting the anti-ObamaCare forces as “ugly,” “unruly,” “nasty” mobs, with reporters presenting the most odious images (like pictures of Obama drawn as Hitler) as somehow representative.
But when President George W. Bush faced left-wing protests, the media scrubbed their stories of radical voices and depicted demonstrators as mainstream, and even “prescient.”
NY dealers pull out of clunkers program
NY dealers pull out of clunkers program
Hundreds of auto dealers in the New York area have withdrawn from the government's Cash for Clunkers program, citing delays in getting reimbursed by the government, a dealership group said Wednesday.
The Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association, which represents dealerships in the New York metro area, said about half its 425 members have left the program because they cannot afford to offer more rebates.
They're also worried about getting repaid.
Hundreds of auto dealers in the New York area have withdrawn from the government's Cash for Clunkers program, citing delays in getting reimbursed by the government, a dealership group said Wednesday.
The Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association, which represents dealerships in the New York metro area, said about half its 425 members have left the program because they cannot afford to offer more rebates.
They're also worried about getting repaid.
Students protest tuition hikes
Students protest tuition hikes
The Spartans and Wolverines may be university rivals but they agree on at least one thing - college is expensive and they want government officials to prioritize higher education.
"It's not every day you will see a Wolverine and Spartan standing peacefully along side each other," Dysarz said with a laugh.
"This state has suffered long enough and needs its political leaders to put their differences aside, like we students did today."
Last month, the MSU Board of Trustees voted to raise tuition 5.2 percent for the coming year and 4.9 percent for the next. Annual tuition and fees for in-state freshmen at MSU after the coming year's increase will be $10,880.
MSU President Lou Anna Simon previously has said the university will use federal stimulus monies it gets from the state to lower tuition costs for undergraduate students from Michigan, potentially bringing the actual tuition increase down to 2.5 percent.
All this expensive and "valuable" education and these kids think it's their parents (through increased taxes and reduced services where they live) who aren't paying enough taxes?
Or even worse, some magic, evil, corporation.
No mention of the salaries and benefits and other expenses controlled by the universities?
gimme a break... we're doomed!
update:
http://reason.tv/video/show/author-richard-vedder-discusse
we're still doomed!
The Spartans and Wolverines may be university rivals but they agree on at least one thing - college is expensive and they want government officials to prioritize higher education.
"It's not every day you will see a Wolverine and Spartan standing peacefully along side each other," Dysarz said with a laugh.
"This state has suffered long enough and needs its political leaders to put their differences aside, like we students did today."
Last month, the MSU Board of Trustees voted to raise tuition 5.2 percent for the coming year and 4.9 percent for the next. Annual tuition and fees for in-state freshmen at MSU after the coming year's increase will be $10,880.
MSU President Lou Anna Simon previously has said the university will use federal stimulus monies it gets from the state to lower tuition costs for undergraduate students from Michigan, potentially bringing the actual tuition increase down to 2.5 percent.
All this expensive and "valuable" education and these kids think it's their parents (through increased taxes and reduced services where they live) who aren't paying enough taxes?
Or even worse, some magic, evil, corporation.
No mention of the salaries and benefits and other expenses controlled by the universities?
gimme a break... we're doomed!
update:
http://reason.tv/video/show/author-richard-vedder-discusse
we're still doomed!
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