"In the end, we all pay more because no one seems to pay anything."

The above quote from a post of 9/26 on a John Stossel column regarding Hillary Care II got me thinking about what really happens with "Universal" insurance of anykind.

IT IS SIMPLY ANOTHER WAY RE-DISTRIBUTE OUR PERSONAL INCOME!

No one "seems" to pay anything, but in fact the upper income people will pay much more and the lower income people will pay less or nothing depending on the pandering the politicians feel like doing at any given time to gain their votes.

It is a bad idea for the society as a whole, as most nations who have tried it now know.

Let's let the private sector work it out. We can take care of our own without government help!

Hillary Care II: John Stossel explains the problem

In "Our Crazy Health-Insurance System" Mr. Stossel shares some basic truths about health insurance. Here is the heart of the argument, but do read the whole thing:

"Steering people to buy lots of health insurance is bad policy. Insurance is a necessary evil. We need it to protect us from the big risks - things most of us can't afford to pay for, like a serious illness, a major car accident or a house fire."

and, closing:

"So there is a lot of waste in insurance - lost money and time.

Imagine if your car insurance covered oil changes and gasoline. You wouldn't care how much gas you used, and you wouldn't care what it cost. Mechanics would sell you $100 oil changes. Prices would skyrocket.

That's how it works in health care. Patients don't ask how much a test or treatment will cost. They ask if their insurance covers it. They don't compare prices from different doctors and hospitals. (Prices do vary.) Why should they? They're not paying. (although they do in hidden, indirect ways.)

In the end, we all pay more because no one seems to pay anything. It's why health insurance is not a good idea for anything but serious illnesses and accidents that could bankrupt you. For the rest, we should pay out of our savings."

Think this through and realize that the politicians, mostly on the left, are simply pandering to the population with a freebie, which is anything but, if you realize the path it sets for our country!

More Jena 6: from the horses mouth!

The District Attorney who handled the Jena 6 prosecution explains the situation without all the emotion and misunderstanding. I think his explanation makes sense. Read it here.

His discription of the attack seems to lend merit to Rightwingsparkle's comment on racism in my previous post.

Rightwingsparkle

One of my favorite bloggers, who has been on a hiatus for almost a year, but returned to her blog in July, notes this in her entry on the Jena 6:

"It reminds me of a saying about feminism. We (females) have become the men we hated. Have blacks become the racists they hated?"

I think there is lots of truth in both parts of this paragraph. Are feminists happy with the results? Are the race baiters happy with their results? Perhaps both should reevaluate their goals.

You can read her here:

http://rightwingsparkle.blogspot.com

"Economics for Dummies": Supply Side Economics Works!

Ralph R. Reiland gives us a history of supply side economics and explains it for "dummies" - I am sure he is using this title fondly!

John F. Kennedy, an icon of the left and in fact a hero of many on the right in my generation, was an active supply sider and was very successful in his short tenure as President.

Does that surprise any of you tax increasers? He understood that this is only a short term correction and a long term disaster for the deficit.

An important read if you want to understand basic economics.

This is our world! (I'm sad to say)

Dean Barnett points out an interesting column from Mark Steyn that is thought provoking to say the least!

Read it and weep for our world!

Hillary Care II: careful! You may get what you wish for!

John Stossel critiques "Nationalized Health Care" in Britain and Canada.

The heart of the matter:

"One basic problem with nationalized health care is that it makes medical services seem free. That pushes up demand beyond supply. Governments deal with that by limiting what's available."

Read the whole thing to understand what is being proposed in the long run!

Hillary Care II

Today's WSJ has an Op-Ed critiquing Hillary's latest proposal for "universal" healthcare. A couple of important paragraphs:

"Meanwhile, the private insurance industry would be restructured with far more stringent regulations. Mrs. Clinton would require nationally "guaranteed issue," which means insurers have to offer policies to all applicants. She would also command "community rating," which prohibits premium differences based on healthy status.

Both of these have raised costs enormously in the states that require them (such as New York), but Mrs. Clinton says they are necessary nationwide to prevent "discrimination" that infringes "on the central purposes of insurance, which is to share risk." Not quite. The central purpose of insurance is to price, and hedge against, reasonably predictable risks. It does not require socializing every last expense and redistributing wealth."

and

"What's striking about all this is how little new thinking there is. Like the other Demoratic proposals, HillaryCare II would mark another major government intrusion into health care. It would keep all of the system's current problems, most of them created by government policies, and entrench and expand them. The creativity is all in the political repackaging." (my emphasis)

Read the whole thing here.

Another rational look at Global Warming

In Imprimis, a monthly publication of Hillsdale College in Michigan, the following article by S. Fred Singer, a well known professor of environmental sciences at the University of Virginia, was published in August. I find its logic hard to set aside.

You might want to go to the Hillsdale College website and sign up for Imprimis. It is a free monthly publication addressing current topics. The college history is quite interesting also.

A Refreshing Look at Global Warming

A WSJ review of Bjorn Lomborgs new book "Cool It!" explains his rational analysis of global warming. Important read to counterbalance the hype!

Jon Voight

On Saturday Sue and I were flying to Fort Lauderdale to spend a week with her sister Jo and her family. We were flying Southwest Airlines through Nashville, with a three hour layover in the “Music City.” We spent this time in the American Airlines Admirals Club relaxing near the bar while having an Asian Chicken Salad with a glass of fine Pinot Noir.

Two gentlemen approached the bar to order a sandwich. I thought I had seen one of them before and whispered to Sue that I thought he was an actor. I couldn’t immediately put a name to the face, but soon realized he resembled a very respected and acclaimed actor who I have heard on several talk radio shows recently discussing his newest movie, “September Dawn.” I hesitated for a few minutes, but finally mustered the courage to ask:

“You couldn’t be an actor by any chance?”

“Yes I am,” he replied, “my name is Jon Voight.”

I introduced myself – and probably forgot to introduce Sue, being a bit nervous – and thanked him for his support of our troops and our goals in Iraq. We then briefly discussed our common belief that our effort in Iraq and the Middle East is an admirable attempt to change things for both those people and for ourselves, since no change will clearly lead to much worse strife in the future.

I knew he was an active supporter of the troops through the discussions I had heard with several radio hosts. He confirmed that, when after learning of our business in San Diego, mentioned that he had been to San Diego often recently visiting wounded veterans at the Veterans Administration Hospital. I was impressed!

We chatted a few more minutes when he asked about our business. His interest in that and his continuing to address me as “Sir” – me “Sir”, when he has done so much for all of us through his acting career over the last 40+ years, an Academy Award winner for Best Actor and multiple nominee, etc, etc, etc, - humbled me and clearly confirmed I was talking to a true gentleman.

Our flight came to soon so we said goodbye, exchanging my business card for a written note from him with his name and his business number in Hollywood, at his suggestion.

It was the best layover we’ve had for a while!

WHERE'S THE OUTRAGE?

If you can read this review of Stuart Taylor, Jr. and K.C. Johnson's new book "Until Proven Innocent" and not get sick to your stomach at the injustice of our politically correct leftist elites, you are a less feeling person than I am.

My fear: it is going to get worse!