This is a very personal thing for me. I went onto Medicare when I turned 65. That is more than three years ago. I left my employer just before turning 65 and they provided coverage until my 65th birthday. My wife was always covered by dependent health insurance. Now that I have no health insurance she must be covered by a private plan. The cost of that plan has now reached $360.00 per month and the co-pay for each visit is $50.00. Yes, I am paying for this insurance because I do have the money but it hurts every month.
It is easy to understand why 47 million Americans have no health insurance. If an employer does not provide a health plan or does provide one that requires a high cost to the individual or family, the employee might find he/she cannot afford the cost. This is a situation that does impact lower level employees in many businesses.
The Republican candidates have been slow to present their ideas on health care. Rudy Giuliani just issued his plan today. He offered a “consumer-oriented” solution that relies on giving individuals tax credits to purchase private insurance. This is a wonderful idea if the individual has the money to pay for the plan. In my case there is too little income to claim a tax credit. Giuliani argues against universal health care by calling it socialized medicine. That is an argument that goes back to the late 1940s when the American Medical Association called universal health care a step towards communism. There does not appear to be any logical reason to argue against universal health care.
The evidence for a change in our health care system is coming from all sides. Emergency rooms are being used as primary care facilities. The cost to hospitals is causing them to sometimes close their doors. Both large and small companies are struggling with their medical insurance costs. Examples are the American auto manufacturers, southern California food chains, and public transportation companies. Why are employers responsible to provide health care?
Universal health care seems to be a Democratic Party issue. All three major candidates have supported a version of universal health care. Why are Republican candidates opposed to this idea? I would like to believe they really care about the best possible care but all evidence seems to point to protecting the current system. Do those Republican candidates see health care companies as major campaign contributors? My guess is the answer is yes.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Wild Oats: Sale Won't Lead to Price Rise - What?
The Federal Trade Commission filed an antitrust lawsuit to block the $565 million sale of Wild Oats Markets to Whole Foods Markets. The commission contends that the consolidation of the two largest natural food chains would result in raised prices and stifled competition.
Wild Oats lawyers said competition is expanding because other supermarkets are selling more organic and natural products. They contend that prices will actually drop. Huh? Lawyers will say anything for their clients.
Let’s see, we now have six major oil companies in the entire world (BP, Chevron-Texaco, Exxon-Mobile, Shell, ConocoPhillips, and Total) More than one half of all revenue in the oil industry is obtained by these companies out of a total list in the Global 500 of 34.. What do you suppose would happen if these companies were split into 12 companies?
Do you suppose if Kroger or Safeway was the only major chain of super markets that prices would decline? Are we better off now that Wells Fargo Bank has bought Crocker and First Interstate? There are now only two major banks in California. Bank of America and Wells Fargo Bank.
This is not a new phenomenon. Even during the Clinton administration the consolidation (merger and acquisition) continued unabated.
Wild Oats lawyers said competition is expanding because other supermarkets are selling more organic and natural products. They contend that prices will actually drop. Huh? Lawyers will say anything for their clients.
Let’s see, we now have six major oil companies in the entire world (BP, Chevron-Texaco, Exxon-Mobile, Shell, ConocoPhillips, and Total) More than one half of all revenue in the oil industry is obtained by these companies out of a total list in the Global 500 of 34.. What do you suppose would happen if these companies were split into 12 companies?
Do you suppose if Kroger or Safeway was the only major chain of super markets that prices would decline? Are we better off now that Wells Fargo Bank has bought Crocker and First Interstate? There are now only two major banks in California. Bank of America and Wells Fargo Bank.
This is not a new phenomenon. Even during the Clinton administration the consolidation (merger and acquisition) continued unabated.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
George W. Bush’s War
If you read Robert Scheer’s commentary, Bush in Free Fall, http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20070724_bush_in_free_fall/
and then read HEROES AND HISTORY by David Brooks http://www.isranet.org/picks_of_the_week.htm#heroes
you may wonder if these two writers are on the same planet. If the David Brooks report is accurate than Robert Scheer’s commentary is pointless. George W. Bush believes he is on the correct course. He considers himself to be beyond, or is it above, the arguments about the Iraq War. He sees himself as the leader of a free world that must convert the rest of the world to his view.
To answer Robert Scheer’s questions there is no disaster and therefore the message of poll ratings does not mean anything. His view is he is the commander in chief and does not have to listen to anything Congress or the people say about this war. Unless two thirds of the congress supports our withdrawal he will not even entertain this idea. At that point I still doubt he would listen to the public. It is not likely he will be impeached. Such discussion is pointless.
We can only hope that the president does not steer us into any additional wars.
and then read HEROES AND HISTORY by David Brooks http://www.isranet.org/picks_of_the_week.htm#heroes
you may wonder if these two writers are on the same planet. If the David Brooks report is accurate than Robert Scheer’s commentary is pointless. George W. Bush believes he is on the correct course. He considers himself to be beyond, or is it above, the arguments about the Iraq War. He sees himself as the leader of a free world that must convert the rest of the world to his view.
To answer Robert Scheer’s questions there is no disaster and therefore the message of poll ratings does not mean anything. His view is he is the commander in chief and does not have to listen to anything Congress or the people say about this war. Unless two thirds of the congress supports our withdrawal he will not even entertain this idea. At that point I still doubt he would listen to the public. It is not likely he will be impeached. Such discussion is pointless.
We can only hope that the president does not steer us into any additional wars.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
The Rule of Law
My previous BLOG entry was about the illegal entry of other nationalities into this country. Most recently in my life I completed a 13 months study course in law. This is not a promotion of my business. This is a discussion of American law. I was struck by the overwhelming amount of legal decisions handed down by our courts. For those of you not familiar with this field, I want to tell you that our nation has a very complex but very thorough legal system. Literally volumes of ruling exist for every state. There are businesses that earn their income by collecting and documenting all the rulings in this country. We are a nation of laws and ruling on the meanings of those laws.
People entering our country illegally are breaking our laws. They are here in the US illegally. They have no legal right to be here. When they demonstrate about their rights, they are complaining that they have no legal rights.
Illegal aliens do have one right. They have the right to be heard in a court of law. It’s the same right of a burglar. He has the right to defend himself in court. We go even farther than many countries because we say that the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
It’s all in the laws that are appealable to the highest court in our country. Everyone, by law, is subject to the same laws including the president of the United States and all of the people working in our government.
The citizens of Iraq and Mexico do not understand our system of government and I doubt they ever will.
People entering our country illegally are breaking our laws. They are here in the US illegally. They have no legal right to be here. When they demonstrate about their rights, they are complaining that they have no legal rights.
Illegal aliens do have one right. They have the right to be heard in a court of law. It’s the same right of a burglar. He has the right to defend himself in court. We go even farther than many countries because we say that the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
It’s all in the laws that are appealable to the highest court in our country. Everyone, by law, is subject to the same laws including the president of the United States and all of the people working in our government.
The citizens of Iraq and Mexico do not understand our system of government and I doubt they ever will.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
The Los Angles Times Opinion is Open Borders to Everyone
On Saturday, July 21, 2007 the Los Angeles Times editorial, horrifyingly titled “All-American deathtrap”, contends that building and maintaining an irrigation canal within our country is unfair to illegal immigrant because they have to swim across it when they are sneaking into our country.
I do not want to have anyone die but those people are here illegally. I would extend that 23 mile waterway from the Rio Grande to the Pacific Ocean if it will deter the entry of illegal aliens. Our safety and our culture are at stake. The primary issue is uneducated and most likely illiterate/unskilled Mexicans are entering this country.
They are not people who have entered the USA with the intent of becoming part of our culture. That was the intent of all those who came here through Ellis Island. Many communities here in California have populations that are more Hispanic than White (non-Hispanic). Unfortunately they choose to speak Spanish and behave as if they are still in Mexico. There are communities in Los Angeles with second and third generation Mexicans who still do not speak English. The men wait at street corners and in the front of building supply businesses hoping for any kind of laboring job. The women take any kind of work they can obtain. This may be better than Mexico for them but it does not make our nation healthier.
A second reason for stopping the flow of illegal aliens is the possibility of terrorists entering our country. Just this past week Michael Chertoff, Secretary of Homeland Security, issued statements that he is concerned about the possibility of a terrorist attack in this country during this summer season.
Would the Los Angeles Times have a different opinion if someone here illegally attacked a Los Angeles landmark? To read the Times editorial click this. http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-ed-canal21jul21,1,6586085.story?track=rss&ctrack=1&cset=true
I do not want to have anyone die but those people are here illegally. I would extend that 23 mile waterway from the Rio Grande to the Pacific Ocean if it will deter the entry of illegal aliens. Our safety and our culture are at stake. The primary issue is uneducated and most likely illiterate/unskilled Mexicans are entering this country.
They are not people who have entered the USA with the intent of becoming part of our culture. That was the intent of all those who came here through Ellis Island. Many communities here in California have populations that are more Hispanic than White (non-Hispanic). Unfortunately they choose to speak Spanish and behave as if they are still in Mexico. There are communities in Los Angeles with second and third generation Mexicans who still do not speak English. The men wait at street corners and in the front of building supply businesses hoping for any kind of laboring job. The women take any kind of work they can obtain. This may be better than Mexico for them but it does not make our nation healthier.
A second reason for stopping the flow of illegal aliens is the possibility of terrorists entering our country. Just this past week Michael Chertoff, Secretary of Homeland Security, issued statements that he is concerned about the possibility of a terrorist attack in this country during this summer season.
Would the Los Angeles Times have a different opinion if someone here illegally attacked a Los Angeles landmark? To read the Times editorial click this. http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-ed-canal21jul21,1,6586085.story?track=rss&ctrack=1&cset=true
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Time for New Leadership in Los Angeles
Los Angeles is the second largest city in the nation with a population of almost 13 million people in the metropolitan area. We have some very rich people here and we have some very poor. What we do not have is a governing body to manage the issues that implicate this significant population.
Everyone thought that Antonio Villaragosa, as mayor of Los Angeles, would bring a new vitality and direction to the city. This has not happened. Instead we have experienced a non stop series of photo ops featuring the mayor. When it comes to substance there has been a dearth of successes.
Here is my list of the mayor’s lack of performance.
- He has supported a subway to the sea but there is no money to build it.
- Light rail projects have been delayed for an indefinite period of time. The Expo line was not given a color code because of some perceived significance in a minority area. The San Fernando Valley east west line became a busway that barely operates faster than traffic on nearby streets.
- He wanted to take control of the school system but lacked the legal authority to complete that task.
- There was the increase in fees to city property owners to pay for new police officers but the enlistments have not filled the police department objectives.
- The airport has not been updated in at least 20 years but bickering among members of the airport commission and the arguments with adjoining cities has resulted in no significant new construction.
- The harbor area has the reputation for significant pollution but no action has been taken to curtail polluting activities.
- Automobile travel times have stretched by 50% and as a result many one hour commutes have become 1 ½ hour commutes. The idea to turn Pico Boulevard and Olympic Boulevard into one way streets has not materialized. To make matters worse the street maintenance has been poor at best. Many streets, including Wilshire Boulevard have not seen resurfacing in many decades.
- Housing costs are now so high in Los Angeles that there has been a major migration to suburbs. Gang activity has contributed to that migration.
Gang activity has brought to attention but no tangible results in reducing the impact.
- The city is a sanctuary for illegal aliens. The impact is streets and fronts of hardware stores have lines of people loitering while waiting for work. Many hospital emergency rooms have been closed due to the number of illegal aliens using those rooms as their only source of medical care. Illegal aliens are a member resource for street gangs.
Being mayor of Los Angeles is a tough job. We need a tough mayor and city council to bring order out of this chaos. I do not believe we have the right people in office now.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Where are all the liberals?
They call us the “left coast” and we are “liberals”, communists, and just plain fools. It’s just not true. What we are is thinking people.
According to the California Secretary of State more than 18% of the registered voters are identified as “Decline to State” on their voter registration forms. “Decline to State” is the official designation for those registering to vote without stating a party preference. It was those “Decline to State” independents and thinking Democrats that recalled Gray Davis and put Arnold Schwarzenegger into office.
The other west coast states have even larger numbers of unaffiliated voters. In Oregon more than 29% and in Washington State more than half of the registered voters have no party affiliation.
My source for this data is the secretary of state web sites.
Are we ready for a robust third political party?
According to the California Secretary of State more than 18% of the registered voters are identified as “Decline to State” on their voter registration forms. “Decline to State” is the official designation for those registering to vote without stating a party preference. It was those “Decline to State” independents and thinking Democrats that recalled Gray Davis and put Arnold Schwarzenegger into office.
The other west coast states have even larger numbers of unaffiliated voters. In Oregon more than 29% and in Washington State more than half of the registered voters have no party affiliation.
My source for this data is the secretary of state web sites.
Are we ready for a robust third political party?
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