Saturday, August 29, 2009

Memo to Fox News...

Next time a big democratic senator dies, you will appear "fair and balanced" if you do not send Sean Hannity as a commentator.

Memo to the GOPs in Congress...

Some of you in Congress, including Bennett, are pushing a plan in Congress that is actually worse than Obama care. It requires businesses to provide insurance for their employees, where now it it just optional. Why will it be more costly? First, enforcement of the new law. It would require a new class of IRS auditors. Second, some businesses would close their doors if forced to provide insurance. Finally, companies that do still provide insurance to their employees would loose a recruiting advantage.

I once thought that Universal Coverage would be as simple as requireing all businesses to provide insurance, but I am re-thinking that position. If it makes Obamacare look good in comparison, no way.

My question: how can you really call yourself a Reagan Republican and completely ignore the supply side of the equation? The real complaint most people have about healthcare is the price. Demand is escalating, and there is very little you can do about it. This is because our population is aging.

Everything that is spoken of by republican commentators will work...a little. But there needs to be some serious supply-side solutions to relieve the pressures that are really driving up prices. If building more refineries and opening more oil fileds will help with energy costs, then training more providers, building more clinics and hospitals, making more pills and flooding the market with more of everything will bring down costs more than anything else that is being proposed right now.

Rest assured, that when Bennett votes for something, a cash register rings and someone makes a killing.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

God Speed Ted Kennedy

I have a lot that I want to say about Ted Kennedy, but I want to stay positive for the time being and allow the family to morn. You will never hear me say anything about the Chappaquiddick incident in a negative light. From what I have read about the incident, it was not as bad as it looks at first blush. I will not address it again.

But I wish that on the conservative side, we has someone like Kennedy. I do not think that we would be as bad off as we are today.


Saturday, August 22, 2009

Citizenship Ammendment

Is a child born in the US automatic citizens, even if they are born to illegal immigrant. True, that court precedent does not allow us to deny them a public education, welfare or health care. But what happens when they turn 18? What about voting? All that they need is a birth certificate, and they get a drivers license and just about everything else that comes with it, including a voting registration.

The case US v Wong, the same case cited in the courts to grant these privileges to the children of illegals, also provides the guidance for who is a US citizen by birth. This also could be the template for the constitutional amendment many claim we need.

A person born inside the borders of the states of the United States is a natural born citizen if...

1. One parent is a a citizen of the United States.
2. One parent is a legal resident of the United States.
3. The parents are not diplomats

A person born outside the United States is a natural born citizen of the United States if...

1. At least one parent is a Citizen of the United State who has been a resident of the United States at least five years prior to the birth of that child.

2. One parent is a member of the US Armed forces or Diplomatic Corps.

The current law is more complicated than this, but this is simple. A constitutional amendment should be simple. There should also be a clause in the amendment ensuring that only Congress has the right to set laws regarding naturalization and immigration to ensure uniformity.

Saturday, August 15, 2009

If Health Insurance Were More Like Auto Insurance

There was a rant by Limbaugh sometime ago about how different Auto Insurance would be if it was run like medical insurance. I apologize for not having a link. How about we turn it around.

1. The owner...or the patient would be responsible for all maintenance costs including gym memberships and routine visits to a physician.

2. The patient would be responsible to pay for minor damage or defects to the body...like glasses, contacts and routine prescriptions.

3. The providers would price items that the patients pay for at a reasonable enough price to allow patients to meet these costs with their own funds...without having to file a claim with a third party.

4. The patient would be responsible for carrying an insurance policy.

5. There would be a penalty from the state if the patient fails to pay the cost of insurance.

6. Persons with a higher risk of needing to file a claim pay a higher premium for that insurance.

7. Insurance companies would provide discounts for people who take steps to reduce their risk.

8. The price of the insurance policy would not change if the patient looses a job.

9. The government would only regulate the system to ensure it is fair for all. The larger burden for this regulation would fall upon the state.

10. The patient would not be expected to pay a steep deductible for claims beyond control.

11. When it gets to a point where nothing can be done for the patient, when it is time to die, the patient would be allowed to go peacefully.

12. All final decisions are made by the patient.

13. Prices would be part of the discussion when determining what should be done. Patients would know the cost up front.

14. There would be a minimum amount of coverage that people would be expected to carry. There would add-ons and options, as well.

15. People who abuse the system are put on a special, more expensive plan.

There is one huge difference between me and my car. My car does not feel pain. I can put off a car repair or ride the bus. There should be reasonable differences, but not many.

If you really want to know how good a single-payer, government run system will work, take a good look at how well the families of our soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and veterans are taken care of. I thought that my family had good care when I was in the Air Force, but there were some things that bothered me as well. Most of the abuse, however, comes from the families of our heroes. A lot of people over using the system. But I left in 1997...has it gotten better or worse? I know there are fewer providers and more people using them. I know that families use a plan and don't see military providers any longer.

I have a post-grad cert in Health Care Administration. According to what I have studied, the biggest problem is that Americans expect the best health care in the world, and they expect to pay next to nothing for it. I also think that the prices are unreasonably high. When you provide a good or service in this country, you should consider how much your customers can afford. People should not be forced into bankruptcy for most medical procedures. I understand the difference between a three year battle with cancer vs a gall bladder extraction. The latter procedure should bankrupt no one. I think that it is unreasonable to expect that people who allow their bodies to waste away should pay the same costs as someone who takes care of their body. People should not expect any insurance reimbursement for something that is routine and planned.

When demand is high and price is high about the only thing that can reasonably be done is increase demand. If I had a trillion dollars to improve the system, I would give a billion to every medical school to doubled their enrollment in five years. There would be bonus money for accepting retiring soldiers and other middle aged people into medical schools. (That's about 50 billion, leaving 970 billion) I would give ten billion each to the first new 10 medical schools. (That is another 100 billion, leaving 870 billion.) Then I would use the remaining money to build more hospitals, bring more generic drugs on the market, triple the number of nurses and PAs and finally to beef up the licensing boards that will be needed to certify all of this. In other words, increased supply, and also more jobs. And we desperately need jobs right now. Yes, we can improve our health care system and the economy at the same time!

Monday, August 10, 2009

Word To The Wise

I don't have a lot of time today, but I have 3 words for people who think that Obama is not a US Citizen. They are three of the most scary words I can think of right now.

President Joe Biden

Let's just vote them both out in 2012.

Friday, August 7, 2009

Name Change

Fire Orrin Hatch has changed it's name. And to my two readers, I will send you emails letting you know.

I have changed the name of my political blog for three reasons:

1. The dismisal of the TEA-party movement and protests against health care reform as being fake and contrived.

2. The fact that Orrin Hatch is not up for election again until 2012.

3. There are bigger threats to my current way of life than Orrin Hatch.

I am still committed to:

1. A congressional term-limit ammendment to the constitution. (18 years. 3 terms in the senate, 9 terms in the house. That would apply to 23 senators and 71 members of the house)

2. Lobbying for good government. Especially in Utah.