Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Rest in Peace, Doc

I lost a good friend last week, which is why I haven't been posting. A hard working man who I respected deeply, his extreme views on politics and life in general will be greatly missed. Should I ever achieve a level of excellence in my work as he so easily performed in his, I could rest peacefully knowing I had brought my very best to the table.

I'll miss you Doc.

Symo


(The Mosquito was one of his favorite historical planes. Doc was an avid model builder, and I am proud to own an F6F Hellcat that he custom built just for me)

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Healthcare solutions?

I certainly don't want to ruffle any more feathers, but here's my take on the deal...

Yes, poor people need health care too. No argument there. Quite frankly, I don't want to pay for it. There is no way in hell I really want a good chunk of my tax dollars to pay for the poor. I'm sorry, but if I want to contribute to it, put a checkbox at the bottom of my tax return requesting I give 20 bucks to the government insurance option (more on that in a bit). This way, I can choose to be a good guy when I want to, not when the government says I must. The reason I don't want them playing with my tax dollars for government programs to pay for the poor is simple... there is no way in hell the government could provide the services necessary within budgetary concerns. Think about it. 400 dollar band aids.

We do need a solution that addresses the insurance racket greed. I mean, I pay 6k a year. I've had insurance for a long freaking time (with a gazillion providers). So say in 10 years, that's more than 50k I've paid to various companies when I've needed a total of about 120 bucks in actual doctor care. Sure, it cost like 600 dollars for that 120 dollars worth of work, but hey, I only had to pay them 35 dollars for the visit. How does THAT math add up, anyway? If I pay for 6k worth of coverage per year, I shouldn't have to pay a freaking CENT when I go for a checkup. What I'm saying here is I am for a government option to provide insurance. This will force competition, and may allow change in the system, along the lines for health insurance to become more like life or auto insurance, which can be taken with you from job to job, state to state. Competition increases, costs for the insurance companies will actually drop because the equity invested by a lifetime subscriber will translate into lower costs as the individual keeps his healthcare for ten years, not one or two, so if you don't "make claims", you're not costing them anything and over a long period the money you invest will become your 'healthcare retirement fund'. Lots of little things too, especially to lower overhead for the businesses, and a more complete ease of use for the client. Lots of win-win to be had around here, but people are stubborn. Myself included. I mean, I want my option to choose my insurer, just as much as my provider. I don't like my choices now as much as I would if I could watch funny Geico commercials about health insurance.

Oh, the death panel thing? I do think if we get to a single payer option that would be a very real possibility. If the government takes the competition out of health care, we're doomed. I don't care about the reality of healthcare for socialized medicine in the UK or Canada. We aren't the UK or Canada. I know the DMV reference is tired, but Americans can be incredibly lazy when they want to be. If we seriously take out the individual success achieved by becoming a doctor, which is a giant house in the suburbs apparently, who's going to want to be the healthcare providers? There will always be a calling for some, but I think a lot of the talent that is attracted by financial security will dry up if there is no drive to be the best doctor you can be. The really good doctors and surgeons should make a lot of money in my opinion, and I would be willing to subscribe to the insurance provider that has access to the best. Choice is the American way. I also wonder what happens to all the University hospitals... do they get absorbed into the system? How about the religiously affiliated? "I'm sorry, you can only be treated here if you're Catholic... separation of church and state and all..." Just wondering.

Tort reform is something that needs to be addressed as well, but I don't know enough about that to yap about it. Doctor Burke and I had a discussion on that very subject about 7 years ago, but I've had a lot of beer since then, so I'm a bit fuzzy on the details. I can imagine it would only be worse now. I'll leave that one up to the Doctors and the useless jerks up on the Hill.

It can be done. There can be a way to get everybody to get along on this issue, just not out of my pocket. Unless I want to of course. Paying for 47 million other people's insurance pisses me off since I still have a stupid co-pay, with more taxes to boot? Nope. Throw out this bill and get something hammered out that de-regulates and fixes, not changes a system that could work if just given the proper steerage.

Friday, August 7, 2009

This sucks.

Lots of chatter about what's going on in this country, so let's talk about some of it.

I hope the birther thing finally goes away. Enough. Congress unanimously passed a resolution stating Obama's birth proof is valid. That includes Republicans. Over. Done. Please. Thank you. I do wonder why he has chosen to keep his school work private... every other President hasn't had a problem with it, so that does concern me. Regardless, until the media (whole different issue) decides that the payday will be worth it, I think everyone can agree that they're not going to disparage "Rock Star" Obama. Thanks for the idea Geo, and overall that about sums up the media issue... if he can clean up this mess, he'll get a chance for a second album. If not, well, there's always being a one hit wonder. For all of our sakes, let's hope it's not 'The Chicken Dance'.

Is this healthcare stuff ugly or what? I believe it is possible to fix the current system by regulating the insurance industry instead of having government take it over. Healthcare is best left to private indusry because of the nature of competition in America. For those who claim that our healthcare is bad, then why does the rest of the world come here for the hard stuff? Seriously folks, would you go anywhere but here to get fixed? Didn't think so. Granted, there are solutions to specific problems that aren't legal here, but that'd be a different post. I was actually surprised when I found out coverage was over 75% of this country... figured it would be more like 60-67. Regardless, it isn't broken for me, so perhaps I'm resistant to change. I'm a single male, no kids. For me it isn't a big deal, but for those who don't have the ability to take care of family would have a different light on this. I'd take government healthcare in a second if I had a child to take care of. I do worry about the screamers and the freakshow media event this has become... I don't recall seeing this kind of a divide. It's like watching the South Park episode about the election, and how everybody is over the top. If (when?) the riots happen, I'm moving to Georgia... at least my friends down there are armed. As far as the promises go to institute the regulations to provide competition, let's hope it becomes competitive, and not just another plot by politicians to find another source of revenue. Worst case? Government insurance that is always juuuust a tad more expensive than what is already in place now. Everybody gets paid, and there are no changes except in the taxes we end up paying to pay for those who are on the government plan. Worst case. Yikes.

I had more, but then I had dinner, so I'm done here. I'll just go back to havin' a couple beers and hope when I wake up in the morning we haven't started shooting yet. Not enough ammo here for all these Democrats here in Jersey. Corzine first.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Need a job? How about Bermuda?

So the 4 ex-detainees released from Guantanamo are working at a golf course in Bermuda. The Brits aren't very pleased with the situation, but I think it's hysterical. Can you imagine being one of these guys, doing whatever the hell they were doing (non-conspiratorial, since they're not a threat) in China or Afghanistan or wherever, then end up working in Bermuda? Sure, spending all that time in prison sucked, but at least they get a chance to work at a premier golf course in a tropical paradise. It's also good to know they're doing quite well at their jobs, but not surprising considering going back to China isn't really in their best interests... outstanding Chinese warrants or something.

Maybe Tiger can hire them when the tournament is over...

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

How time flies...

Howdy all, yes, I've been slackin' on the blogging. I'd tell you to sue me, but I really don't have much. That should be a good lead in...

Not a lot going on that I actually want to write about. Like, there's this story about a woman who decapitated her infant child and ate it's brain, but that's not a fun topic. Chewed off a couple toes too. Yikes. h/t to the Fookisan.

You all know I'm a right leaner, so I'm not going to go off on the vehicle which is our economy driving headlong into a ditch. If you can't run a clunkers promotion for a freaking WEEK, then I really don't want you in charge of another healthcare system since you haven't figured out the bugs in the first one. Or two. Maybe more, but I'm not a Czar so I shouldn't know these things... oh wait, the Czar doesn't have to know either. That's cool. Glad my tax dollars are paying these 44 (or whatever... I lost count after 30) assholes over 100k a year each. Maybe I can apply to be a horrible blogger Czar... crap. Wouldn't work. I know too much.

My hours have been cut at work, and since I'm a contracting type, I don't get paid. Not fired, but having your employer say "you're taking week off" just kinda sucks. I'm happy to be working so I wouldn't dare bitch, and that's a really frightening position to be in. I can't even imagine how it feels to be unemployed with this kind of grim stagnation out there. We've accepted the fact that it sucks and now we want it working again... I just don't want the government at the helm of what appears to be a ship without a rudder. Somebody, anybody, needs to get everybody on the same page, because we're all over the place.

They haven't buried Michael Jackson yet? The French (now) are more conservative than us??? Russian subs are cruising our eastern seaboard, Obama still hasn't backed off of backing the bad guys. Oh wait! There is good news out there, Michael Phelps can smoke(yes, I know, was before whatevs) AND win a few more medals. Good for you pal. Hey, even I have my liberal side.

What's up with the Jews selling kidneys in New Jersey? I mean, they can't donate themselves, but if there's a dollar to be had. Good Lord. 40 some politicians indicted, and not a lot of heat about it. Like this happens every day. What? 40 some corrupt guys? No big deal....

Okay, I'm done for now. Just so you know, I'm not dead, I'm just sleeping.