My Three Cents

On the Tebow Ad

2010-02-09T08:28:00.000-08:00

All the drama with Focus on the Family's Super Bowl ad over this?

I wasn't sure who should feel worse — the folks who donated the money for that ad or the pro-"choice" groups who look pretty silly after objecting to it.

And then I thought, "I wonder if that was the idea."

It's great if you can win over the hearts and minds of the population with solid arguments and clear reasoning. But if you can get them laughing at your opponents, that scores a point too.

After all the squawking over the ad, a lot of people will visit Focus and see more than they ever could have fit into a 30-second spot. They can get their message out and make some pro-aborts looks silly. Touchdown.

Obama's College Giveaway

2010-02-03T09:50:00.000-08:00

One item in Pres. Obama's State of the Union address hasn't gotten a lot of air time since:

"... let's tell another one million students that when they graduate, they will be required to pay only 10 percent of their income on student loans, and all of their debt will be forgiven after 20 years — and forgiven after 10 years if they choose a career in public service, because in the United States of America, no one should go broke because they chose to go to college."

My initial response was, "Are you out of your ever-loving mind?!"

After digesting and contemplating this idea for a while, I've replaced "ever-loving" with something stronger.

Do we really need another giveaway in this country? Is there something we haven't hocked to China yet?

Let's look at three reasons this is a terrible idea.

1) One of the reasons college costs so much these days is financial aid keeps going up.

Wait, isn't it the other way around? Yes and no. It's a cycle, a little dance they do. Colleges know that if they raise prices, aid will just go up. Grants will grow, and if they don't people can borrow a little more. So financial aid increases, then the colleges can raise prices again.

Promising that you'll never have to pay off your full loans will only make that worse.

2) Making college "more affordable" will further encourage people to go to college who really aren't cut out for it.

Government alone isn't at fault here, but more and more people think of college as simply the next level of education after high school. And anyone who suggests that trade schools are a good alternative is usually viciously attacked.

Everyone isn't cut out for college. Every job shouldn't require a college degree.

And supply and demand says sending more people after the same product will increase the price of that product.

3) We give away enough.

We give money and food to the poor. We have housing assistance. We have health care for the poor and many want to expand that to everyone. Now we want to make a college education an entitlement? Where will it end?

It's time for the "gimme" mentality to stop. People need (on a deep, fundamental level) to make their own way. Helping people in need is one thing. Making sure everyone has anything they could desire is something else entirely — something toxic.

It's time we say, "Enough!"

And it's time we tell Mr. Obama that the American people aren't his piggy bank for whatever project crosses his mind. Our Constitution lists the responsibilities and prerogatives of the federal government; we need to obey it. I know he used to teach it, but I wonder if he ever read it.

Headlines 2/2/10

2010-02-02T09:47:00.000-08:00

Newfoundland Premier to have heart surgery in U.S.
A solid endorsement of the Canadian health care system

Tebow's Super Bowl ad isn't intolerant; its critics are
Some common sense from a pro-choicer

What Does The Federal Budget "Freeze" Look Like?

Weekend Roundup

2010-01-25T09:57:00.000-08:00

Just in case you missed these interesting little tidbits this weekend...

Obama endorses deficit commission plan
"... after November."

(More on this deficit commission.)

Naked airport scanner catches cellphone, misses bomb components
Get ready for body cavity searches.

Vocational classes can keep kids in school, on career path
... but we're afraid of appearing to discriminate.

An interesting older piece I came across: Why Martin Luther King Was Republican

The Future of Healthcare Reform

2010-01-20T10:09:00.000-08:00

Unless you're living under a rock, you've surely heard that the GOP won Ted Kennedy's old Senate seat putting the Democrats one vote shy of a filibuster-proof super-majority.

The big question is what will happen with the healthcare reform bill(s). So far the options seem to be:

1) The House can pass the Senate bill as-is.
2) The Senate can employ the "nuclear option" and pass a conference bill with 51 votes.
3) The whole thing could die and go away as it did in the 90's.
4) The whole thing could start over with a GOP that can demand to be involved.

I fear we'll get 1 or 2. I deeply hope we get #4.

I really don't want #3. There are a lot of reasons why healthcare reform went away for more than a decade after the death of HillaryCare, but it was a mistake. It's not one we want to repeat.

Even if I don't get everything I want in reform (which is almost certain), Congress could do some real good if they'd drop the bickering, posturing, and ideological wishlists and tackle those issues most Americans can agree on.

We can get more people insured and lower the cost of insurance if we open up interstate insurance markets. We can create a pool for those who have problems getting health insurance that isn't a "public option." We can come down on those who look for a loophole to drop insurees after they get sick. We can reduce the cost of providing medical care by instituting some basic tort reforms.

We can improve our health care system without turning it upside down or making it an arm of the federal government. And we need to Congress that's exactly what we want.

Maybe now they'll listen.

Headlines 1/19/10

2010-01-19T05:47:00.001-08:00

N.J. Boy, 8, On Terrorism Watch List
Maybe if his dad reports him to the feds they'll let him on a plane.

White House budget director blames old computers for ineffective government
At least they're not blaming Bush this time.

Unions nab sweetheart health-care deal
One more ObamaCare bribe for the list.

World misled over Himalayan glacier meltdown
How something "everyone knows" can be completely false.

US accused of 'occupying' Haiti as troops flood in
Yeah, just like they did in Malaysia.

We Want Our Money Back

2010-01-14T10:31:00.000-08:00

The Obama administration wants to tax banks to pay for the financial bailout, telling banks, "We want our money back."

Can we say that to Washington?

Anyway, some claim this is unfair. They're right.

They want to tax some banks — those meeting certain magic criteria — without asking if these banks have paid back or even ever received taxpayer funds.

But didn't all these banks benefit from the assistance to troubled banks? Probably. But does that make it right to ask you to pay a special tax to pay for actions of another you have no control over?

Would we accept this with individuals? No. Then we shouldn't accept such tortured logic with banks.

Unforced Error on Health Plan Tax

2010-01-12T13:25:00.000-08:00

Big Labor is upset the Dems want to levy a tax on high-value health insurance plans. I'm just scratching my head over whether the Dems realize what they're doing.

On the one hand they say they want to tax "Cadillac" health plans (whatever that means) to discourage them, resulting (somehow) in lower health care costs for everyone.

On the other hand they want to pay for health care reform by taxing these health plans.

So which is it? Are we trying to get rid of them or use them for revenue? More importantly, how can we use them for revenue if we're trying to get rid of them? I'd say it's all an accounting gimmick, but I don't think they're bright enough to recognize the contradiction.

Terror is an Important Word

2010-01-07T09:52:00.000-08:00

Conservatives have been attacking President Obama over his approach to terrorism and the war on terror.

Among other things, they're attacking his apparent unwillingness to use the words "terrorism," "war on terror," and, especially, "Islamic terrorists."

This unwillingness disturbs me because an important part of any mission is the goal. If you don't know what you're trying to accomplish, you can't even know what resources you need or what steps you must take.

In war, this is especially important. Who are we fighting? Why are we fighting them? Why are they fighting us? Where are they? How do we find them? What kind of weapons will they use? What kind of targets do they seek?

All of these questions and more require that we know exactly who and what we're fighting.

We are at war with a group that has no nation, but they are predominately found in a couple of particular parts of the world. They have a very distinct ideology that is taught in particular parts of the world. Their ideology makes them eager to die for their cause. They make no distinction between soldier and civilian. They see many of their own neighbors as part of the enemy.

They find the majority of their recruits not among the poor but disaffected middle and upper class young adults. They have no common race or nationality; what they share is ideology. Their goal is not land or money or power but the conversion or extermination of "infidels."

Does this describe Nazis or Soviets? Are these Irish terrorists or Latin American revolutionaries? Of course not.

Are we going to go on offense or simply react to their attacks? Can we cut off their supply lines or anticipate their targets?

Everything in this war depends on knowing who the enemy is.

We must name the enemy. Only then can we maintain focus, resist mission creep, and maintain the support of the populace.

Only then can we win.

Headlines 12/31/09

2009-12-31T06:14:00.000-08:00

Texas spends $1.8 million to weatherize 7 houses
Govt efficiency on display

What Doctors and Patients Have to Lose Under ObamaCare
Besides rights, choice, and quality. Yes, "besides."

Iran accuses Western countries of fomenting violent protests
Of course, we accuse them of supplying violent terrorists.

Dave Barry's year in review: 2009

Blue on Blue: Maureen Dowd Actually Criticizes Obama
Rips him a new one, actually.

Everybody have a happy new year!

Long Weekend Healthcare Reform Roundup

2009-12-28T05:44:00.000-08:00

Less Health Care for More Money: What's the Catch?
On Oregon's health care crisis — and their "universal" health care system.
(HT: Southern Appeal)

"This is the beginning of health care reform."
If you think this bill's bad, wait 'til you see what's next.

Mission Creep in Health Reform
Ditto.

ObamaCare and Taxes
Taxes for some; handouts for others. It's nice to have friends in high places.

An All-Powerful Medical Board?

2009-12-23T05:51:00.000-08:00

Sen. Harry Reid has inserted into the Senate health care reform bill language making it against Senate rules to even consider over-ruling the medical board his bill will create.

That doesn't make the board completely all-powerful, but it means you have to get 66 Senators to agree (to a rule change) before you can even bring up the topic of over-ruling the board. Elected officials, representatives of the people, will be unable to control the bureaucrats.

Do you object to this? I have a hard time believing even liberals are ok with such an anti-democratic notion. If you have a problem with this, today is the day to call your senators and tell them.

Weekend Roundup

2009-12-21T07:22:00.000-08:00

The Time for Political Games is Over
WH: "Pass ObamaCare so we can fund the troops." Yeah, it doesn't make any sense to me either.

Neb.'s Nelson approves health care bill
Principled politician or prostitute?

The Hardest Call
ObamaCare's pro's and con's. Lots of con's.

Thin Climate Accord a Small Step in Long Process
"Nations agreed ... to keep temperatures from rising more than 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels..."

As if "preindustrial levels" 1) was a constant value 2) that they can be sure they know 3) that should be a gold standard 4) that we can do anything about. A lot of gobbledygook in this.

Dreading our future
Obama's fans lose the faith: "Instead of provoking thought and inspiring ideas, the man hailed for his Ivy League nuance insists we stop thinking and do what he says. Now."

Health Care Reform Question

2009-12-11T07:42:00.001-08:00

Something occurred to me this morning:

Right now rank-and-file liberals seem very inclined to assume doctors are lying and the Democrats in Congress are telling the truth about health care reform.

How often do doctors lie to people? How often do politicians lie?

Why should we think now is any different?

Headlines 12/7/09

2009-12-07T06:22:00.000-08:00

Copenhagen climate summit: 1,200 limos, 140 private planes and caviar wedges
Green living for everyone else.

1975: The Ice Age is Coming
In case you'd forgotten (or weren't born yet).

Job Woes Hit Blue States Hardest
Maybe because blue states have the highest taxes.

UK cancer death rate is 38% higher than in US

Common Sense vs. the CBO on ObamaCare
Analysis: how many companies would dump insurance?

Obama and Afghanistan

2009-12-02T10:57:00.000-08:00

Ok. He's sending troops. That's good. I'm glad he's doing it.

I wish he was sending as many as the good general asked for. I wish he didn't feel the need to name an exit date. I wish he hadn't pre-empted Charlie Brown.

But I'm glad he's sending the troops.

And you have to feel for the guy on this. He's caught between the right — both hawkish Dems and the GOP — and the left — who want to pack up and go home. He's going to get beat up from both sides.

So let's be praise his decision to send the troops and support him and them in this conflict.

UN on Terrorism

2009-12-01T17:53:00.000-08:00

People will take different positions on the Swiss minaret ban, and that's fine, but the UN human rights chief demonstrated a serious deficiency while criticizing the new law.

The Swiss government, though no fan of the initiative, says the move is "not against Islam or Muslims, but one aimed at improving integration and fighting extremism."

The UN's Navi Pillay says, "These are extraordinary claims when the symbol of one religion is targeted."

Yes — the one religion that is proving difficult to integrate into European societies and is producing terrorists.

Why do liberals have such a difficult time admitting that there is only one religion — and thankfully only one faction in that religion — that is producing international terrorists? For all they accuse conservatives of being warmongers, if we do not properly identify the enemy, we run the risk of putting other groups in the crosshairs.

Or maybe that's the point.

Mobile Site

2009-11-30T10:25:00.000-08:00

I've added a mobile-friendly feed to the site if anyone's interested:

http://www.google.com/reader/m/view/feed/http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/CBmO

Headlines 11/30/09

2009-11-30T10:03:00.000-08:00

Climate change data dumped
Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.

5 Scientific Red Flags
or "You might be a poser if..."

A picture can be worth 2,000 pages
A simple graphic reveals Congressional accounting tricks. (HT: VS)

Senator Says Afghan Forces, Not US, Key to Success
Perhaps we need to define "success."

Headlines 11/25/09

2009-11-25T09:39:00.000-08:00

Patient trapped in 23-year coma heard everything
So a "persistent vegitative state" can be neither persistent nor vegitative.

The Battle of Presidio
Chicago immigration policy: Channeling illegal aliens to a state you don't like.

Dems fight over funds left from bailout
What should we do with all that extra taxpayer money?

Toys with lead levels that exceed federal limits
Of course, "legal" now means any.

No Surprise: Coed Dorms Fuel Sex and Drinking

Senate Health Bill Roundup

2009-11-23T10:27:00.000-08:00

= Senate Health Plan Requires Monthly Abortion Fee

... Attacks HSAs

... Would Cost $3.5 Trillion
(once you dodge the accounting tricks)

= GOP's reform ideas
Yes, they actually have some. Don't expect to hear it from the MSM, though.

What's Wrong with Cutting Medicare?

2009-11-20T11:07:00.000-08:00

This Congress keeps producing healthcare reform bills that try to pay for themselves via some reduction in Medicare payments. Those cuts will probably not happen, but conservatives decry them anyway, just in case.

What's the big deal about cutting Medicare? Let me explain using round numbers and oversimplification.

Let's set up the situation. Besides having to pay for whatever supplies are used on them (e.g., drugs, bandages), patient fees also have to cover things like the light bill, payroll, and rent as well as a reasonable operating margin (aka profit, which every business must have to survive).

Say a clinic sees 100 patients a day. Each patient's fees need cover 1% of that overhead on top of whatever went into their actual care. Let's just say that comes out to an average of $100 per patient per visit.

What if Medicare says they'll only pay $90? The clinic's options are try to cut costs, see fewer Medicare patients, see more patients, or cost shift.

The first option is a continual process in any business, and belt tightening happens in the medical field as much as anywhere, but that will only get you so far. Some physicians take option number two — which hurts Medicare patients — but in some specialties too many patients are on Medicare to make that a viable option.

Seeing more patients may allow the facility to pay its bills, but it puts more stress on the staff and the patient — if a doctor normally sees 5 patients an hour, upping it to 8 makes him work harder and means each patient gets less time with the physician. That's bad.

That leaves us with option #4 — cost shifting. If it takes $100/patient visit to pay the bills, and if a chunk of your patients don't pay that, you must make that money somewhere else. Let's say charging your non-Medicare patients $110/visit will cover expenses. It's not nice, but what can you do?

Now let's say the large insurance companies say they'll only pay $100. What happens?

The patient with neither Medicare nor insurance must now pay $130 so the clinic can pay its bills.

This is the state of things today. These proposed further Medicare cuts would take the reimbursement down to $80. Who's going to make up the difference?

You.

Some of you will pay more at the doctor's office and/or in insurance. Some of you will wait longer to have a shorter visit with a very busy doctor. And some of you will have to find a new doctor after yours can't pay his bills and closes his doors.

Taking money from Medicare to pay for health care reform is simply cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Liberal Honesty on Healthcare Reform

2009-11-20T06:11:00.000-08:00

Thank you, Robert Reich, for finally telling the truth about what the Democrats want to accomplish:

"...[Y]ou, particularly you young people, particularly you young healthy people...you're going to have to pay more. ... And by the way, ... if you're very old, we're not going to give you all that technology and all those drugs for the last couple of years of your life to keep you maybe going for another couple of months. It's too expensive...so we're going to let you die. ...

Also I'm going to use the bargaining leverage of the federal government in terms of Medicare, Medicaid – we already have a lot of bargaining leverage – to force drug companies and insurance companies and medical suppliers to reduce their costs. What that means, less innovation and that means less new products and less new drugs on the market which means you are probably not going to live much longer than your parents."

Now wasn't that easy? I don't know why Pres. Obama and his pals won't just be honest with the American people like that.

Headlines 11/19/09

2009-11-19T05:59:00.000-08:00

Soldier mom refuses deployment to care for baby
Which raises the question: Why are we sending mothers to war?

Senate bill weighs in at 2,074 pages
Why is each one bigger than the last?

GOP to 18 Million Americans: "Screw You"
That would be the headline if a GOP Congress offered 94% of Americans insurance.

Improper US Government Payments Hit $98 Billion
...and they think this is a reason to give govt more power.

Healthcare Headlines 11/18/09

2009-11-18T08:47:00.000-08:00

= British Health and safety snoops to enter family homes
Once you have state-run health care, everything becomes government business

= China questions costs of U.S. healthcare reform
Reasonable, since they'll be paying for a lot of it.

a Grading Healthcare and ObamaCare
Filed under "I wish I wrote that," the Dean of Harvard Med School gives a succinct explanation of the problems with both.

i ObamaCare: Insurance Premiums Will Soar
Sometimes the cure is worse than the disease.