LSJ Blogs: People's Politics

Are you serious?

The gang that figured out that the stimulus was a good idea gave you this. 

With analysis and projections like this can turning health care over to them possibly be a good idea?

Hate crime or not?

By any measure of merit, the killing of 13 (at this writing) people at Ft Hood, TX was a horrific act.  The coverage and opinions of the actions of Major Nidal Malik Hasan have generated views from the ridiculous to thoughtful.  A full analysis of the situation has not been completed yet and it may turn out some of the victims were killed by other than Hasan as “friendly fire,” but that will sort itself out when the analysis has been completed; regardless even if Hasan did not directly kill all 13, it is fair to say he was responsible for their deaths by his despicable actions.  I wonder how the readers of the People’s Politics view this?  For full disclosure, I think the hate crime legislation passed as Public Law 103-322 in 1994 was political correctness gone amuck.

Meaning of the Nov 3 elections

I have been sorting through the various news sources, left and right, trying to ferret out the meaning of the elections yesterday.  Taking what by consensus were the Big 3, Virginia and New Jersey gubernatorial elections and the New York 23 special congressional vote, did they mean a repudiation of Obama?  Was it a repudiation of Obama’s policies but not Obama?  Did it signify that the teabag movement had an impact?  Did it imply the Republicans are on the ascendency?  Did it mean nothing at all?

A Win and A Loss for Equality

Voters in Kalamazoo yesterday upheld the city's civil rights ordinance, which guarantees equal rights in employment and housing to all, including gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people.

On the same day, voters in Maine overturned a state law legalizing gay marriage in the state. 

VOTE TODAY!!!

Not because you are required to, but because you are entitled to.  Think about all the places in the world where people do not have the right to vote on their government, and be grateful you don't live in one of them.  If you aren't sure what's on the ballot where you are, check your county clerk's website or your local clerk's website or office.  Be aware that some localities have registered write-in candidates who you may want to consider.  You can do Internet searches to learn more about the candidates and issues.

On the other hand, if YOU don't vote, then MY vote counts for more.  So, go ahead and stay home...

Let’s All Get HAPPY

I saw a disturbing item on the local news recently that I thought needed to be looked into.  It seems a bill has been introduced into the House of Representatives (here’s the Library of Congress link - http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.3501:) that would allow a tax deduction of up to $3,500 for owners of “domesticated” pets.  Officially, it’s HR3501.  But, it has a really catchy name.  It’s the Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years (HAPPY) Act.  My how the entitlement society is blossoming.

Shorts again

How is the Obama Administration creation of alternate (green) energy working out for us?  As far as I can see, in a down economy the price of gasoline has gone up.  According to the classic economic theory, that cannot happen so something else must be going on.  Could it be the suppliers know that the US is not going to drill for more oil (or exploit the natural gas or coal fields or nuclear energy) so they can gouge us for whatever they want?  The Obama Administration’s energy policy is a disgrace.

The LCC Board Election

This election is not just on the ballot in the city of Lansing - it encompasses much of the tri-county area and possibly a bit more.  I don't know the exact boundaries, but they are large.  If you read the LSJ, and you didn't retire to Florida, you are probably within them. 

There are seven candidates running for three seats.  The top three vote-getters win.  (If you consider winning a 6 year term to the LCC Board, where you are paid virtually nothing and people come and yell at you a lot, winning.)  Two incumbents are running as a slate, as are three of the challengers. 

The East Lansing City Council Election

Honest, there is one, though you haven't heard much about it.  There are two seats up, and incumbents Kevin Beard and Vic Loomis are both running for re-election.  In addition, Hans Norman Larsen IV is on the ballot, and Phillip Bellfy is running as a write-in candidate. 

Democrats Unveil New Health Reform: This should be interesting!

Speaker Pelosi unveiled new democratic health-reform legislation today. I'm not sure why this is such big news, because chances are that it will never pass and we will just keep running around in circles on health care "to infinity." Essentially, they are asking for a government insurance option and for an increase to the ceiling for Medicaid.

The Washington Post, where I obtained much of the statistical info for this blog (Shaylagh Murray, Oct. 29, 2009), is quick to point out that there are still sticking points... minor things like using tax dollars from people who don't believe in abortion to fund abortions and using US tax payer funds to offer medical care to non-US citizens. Of the two problems, I think the former is the most offensive to me, but I suspect the latter will be of greater concern to most. Why do I care more about using tax dollars to fund abortions? Because people who abhor abortion, perhaps because of religious beliefs, have the right to not see their money fund abortions. It's separation of church and state. Why don't I care as much about immigrants receiving treatments paid for with US funds? Because sick people make other people sick, regardless of whether they are here legally or not. I'd rather treat sick illegal immigrants than pay to treat five sick people here legally who became sick because an illegal immigrant couldn't get treatment. But it does leave open the door for misuse... people could potentially come to America just to take advantage of free health care. And it is obviously using our limited resources for people who aren't paying in, which is a legitimate thing for people to be upset about.

But there are other really important problems with this legislation...

1) To bring it down from $1.06 Trillion over 10 years to $900 Million over 10 years they are putting more people into Medicaid. That justs moves the cost from the new government insurance option to the already-expensive Medicaid option.

2) The proposal gives providers the ability to negotiate reimbursement rates with federal health officials. Since that wouldn't happen until after the bill passes, how do we know if the cost will be $900M over ten years? The cost can't be reasonably predicted if the rates are decided. And this provision was put in to appease leaders from rural areas wh ocouldn't stomach Medicare rates of reimbursement because those rates are unfairly low in rural areas. But who is to say that the federal health officials won't hold out for the same or even lower rates in the "negotiations" once the legislation was accepted?

It's sad, really, that there will never be a plan that satisfies everyone. There will always be holes in every plan, better plans will always cost too much, and we just keep chasing our tails.

I hope they keep trying, though.