Hi all – you probably noticed that I was absent this entire week. Given everything that was going on in the news and with this administration there was just too much to keep up with – so – I decided I would just watch and listen to it all. I’ve come to a couple conclusions – (1) P-BO hates America, (2) P-BO hates our allies, (3) P-BO loves our enemies, and (4) Our government is the furthest out of touch with this country than they ever have been. If anyone has been paying attention to the news – you will understand how I came to those conclusions.
To all of you who left comments on my various posts throughout the week – so sorry for not responding back. I pretty much just shut down altogether this past week – didn’t even turn on the computer. Anyway – I’m back on it – and startin fresh. I have since read all the comments – responded to a few – others – I just don’t have the energy to bother.
Now – lets’ get on with this show – I think you’ll all enjoy the submissions this week. Thanks again to all who contributed.
Conservative
Everett presents 1942 Prediction: Liberalism to replace Capitalism :: Honest Inquiry posted at Honest Inquiry.
Wow! Joseph Schumpeter was right on the money wasn’t he? I recommend this to everyone. If we don’t reverse course and see the errors of our ways as Schumpeter predicted, we will indeed be doomed to a system of socialism.
NotYourDaddy presents Delivering the Goods posted at Government is not your Daddy., saying, “The depressing truth is America is no longer a world leader in production. We are trailing the pack. We are now a debtor nation, and our biggest creditor is China. — What the hell happened? And how will we ever recover? And, the more disturbing question is, what will happen to America if we don’t?”
Excellent post NYD – I say we break the damned NAFTA, provide tax incentives to our American businesses through reduced corporate taxes, and then bring all the freakin’ production back to this country. You are absolutely correct in your analysis – big government and over regulation has put us in the predicament we are in. Government intrusion and big brother have destroyed America and our productive capacity. Government is a consumer – not a producer. Lastly, we need to start trading equally – we don’t import more than we export.
Scott Spiegel presents 32 GOP Bills on the Wall posted at Scott Spiegel.
Well – my personal belief is that the GOP shouldn’t be proposing any bills at all regarding health care as this whole thing is unconstitutional. If the GOP wants to stand up and show they are true conservatives and follow the constitution – they should stand up and let Americans know they oppose this whole travesty and will demand that Congress specifically state where the powers are enumerated in the constitution for this bill and any other bills. Any Congressman that submits their own healthcare bill is in violation if there is any government spending whatsoever.
BWL presents Is Capitalism “Anti-Jesus”? posted at Christian Personal Finance, saying, “Michael Moore seems to think that Capitalism is evil – what do you think?”
BWL – excellent. I’ve been saying much of the same thing. It is the responsibility of we as individuals to take care of the downtrodden and those less advantaged. It should never be the government’s responsibility of forced charity through taxation and wealth redistribution. Michael Moore is a pinhead. Capitalism is not anti-Jesus. In fact, through capitalism, a true free-market capitalism without government interference, Americans are able to give more through their own volition and kindness.
TSW presents Investing In Gold: Trading Spot Gold vs Buy and Hold posted at The Smarter Wallet, saying, “where is gold today?”
I’m still kicking myself for not buying more back when it was at $459. I made that decision unilaterally back in 2003 to purchase in to it. However, once it hit $650 – I knew I would have to consult the wife before making such a decision – especially as I was considering buying a really large chunk. My wife hemmed, hawed, faltered, and essentially would not commit. I was already working with gold reps to get my piece of the pie – but had to keep putting him off waiting for my wife to come around. After two months and gold hitting $900 – I knew at that time we really lost our opportunity. However, that was a personal decision. Given the way our dollar is plummeting and a really strong push to move away from the dollar as the international standard – I would say that gold has the potential to really increase. I can’t get myself to buy in to it – but – as you pointed out – there are still opportunities out there for others. I’ve reached my risk threshold for gold.
Liberal
Madeleine Begun Kane presents Chris Wallace Feels Dissed posted at Mad Kane’s Political Madness.
Well – one does have to wonder why Obama fears Fox News so much. He couldn’t possibly be afraid of having real journalists ask him some real questions, could he? Hi think Chris Wallace has a legitimate complaint. There are no real journalists out there anywhere else other than Fox News these days – with the exception of Jake Tapper, maybe. But, nonetheless, P-BO knows that the fringe media is in love with him and will give him a pass on everything. He is in friendly territory with them. The problem is – the media should NEVER be friendly territory for anybody in government – especially the President.
Libertarian
Anthony DeFazio presents Bank Wars posted at sannyasa.
Welcome to The Carnival Anthony. Nice touch using our currency and the words of those figureheads on them to drive a point home. It should also be worth mentioning that our Constitution does not allow for fiat money. Article 1, Section 10 specifically states:
No State shall …make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts
To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures
Neither Congress nor the States should be coining any money other than that in silver and gold. While the 1868 Legal Tender Cases did permit the government to print paper money – that money had to backed by gold or silver – something we moved away from in the 1970′s when we got off the “gold standard.” When we gave the Federal Reserve the power over our economy and currency – this country made an absolutely huge mistake. Every recession and depression can be tied back directly to the actions of the Federal Reserve.
News
Aetius Romulous presents Wealth Swapping posted at ScreamBucket.
Wow – long but very informative. This is my learning experience of the week. Thanks for submitting this one.
Politics
Bob Brooks presents The Bottom Line on Socialism and the Future of our Country posted at Bob Brooks – Prudent Money Blog.
Bob – excellent analysis. While the politicians have a small window of opportunity right now – I believe they will go against the will of the American people – they did so with Cap and Tax. There is going to be a huge shift in 2010 and 2012. I think P-BO and this administration have set things in place for another Ronald Reagan. Anything passed this year that is against the will of America will no doubt be repealed in 2010 when government control shifts. I only hope that the American people actually vote in REAL pro-capitalist conservatives this time around instead of RINOs.
John Mastro presents Are the Negative Rumors About the Obama Health Care Bill True? posted at John Mastro.net, saying, “So many different views, rumors, assumptions and arguments are ongoing about the ”America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009“. The nation is very divided and there are very passionate supporters and opposers on both sides. Separating fact from fiction.”
Good Analysis – I’ll help you out a little bit more for your analysis
1 – Audit of self-insured companies – actually – you need to re-read (C) – one cannot “study” the financial solvency and capital reserve levels of any organization without conducting a full audit. In this sense – Dr. Foster is correct. Also, you missed this part under Section 142, (b)(2)(A) -
(A) IN GENERAL- The commissioner shall, in coordination with States, conduct audits of qualified health benefits plan compliance with Federal requirements. Such audits may include random compliance audits and targeted audits in response to complaints or other suspected non-compliance.
2 – The point is that the government would be making these decisions. We don’t want the government determining anything about our healthcare, benefits, or medical decisions. These decisions are best left to the physicians. I agree, our private insurance is flawed in this way as well. Any reform should put the decisions back in to the hands of our physicians and the patients – not bureaucrats.
3 – Umm – check those figures again – The government is limiting care to $5,000 per person and $10,000 per family. So, a family of 4 may only use $10,000 worth of services. Sure, our current health insurance have plan maximums also – but – those maximums are usually $1 Million per family. You do realize that a single pregnancy alone would exceed the $10,000 government maximum, right? A single hospitalization for chest pain would exceed the $10,000 government maximum. This would cause severe rationing of health care that is not found in private employer based insurance right now. You might want to look back through your plan documents again and see what your maximums are. They aren’t this low.
4- I can support you on this one. The CBO also stated its not possible for illegals to obtain coverage under this plan. However, it doesn’t stop them from gaining access through EMTALA as they already are doing.
5 – I think you missed the point again – this is the government having access to your bank account. Why would you support that? Also, this isn’t just bill pay…I don’t know why you didn’t include the whole paragraph under that section – it also gives them complete access to your bank account to determine your eligibility for the reduced or no cost level of the plan. In addition, it also gives the IRS permission to automatically provide the federal government with tax information to determine your eligibility. Again, I ask you, why would you give the government complete access to your bank account? I read federal laws for a living in order to implement them in my organization. When you read each section, you have to understand how or why they apply. What you need to do is go back and look at the previous sections as well – here is what you missed – Section 1173A(a)(2)(D)
(D) enable the real-time (or near real-time) determination of an individual’s financial responsibility at the point of service and, to the extent possible, prior to service, including whether the individual is eligible for a specific service with a specific physician at a specific facility, which may include utilization of a machine-readable health plan beneficiary identification card;
In order to make that “real-time” determination of financial responsibility is to have access to an individual’s finances.
6 – I support you on this one as well. All government services are required to have access to translation services – whether the individual is illegal, legal, or whatever. We could save a hell of a lot of money if we would just make English the national language. We are the only country in the world that does not have a government backed national language.
7 – I have to agree with you on this one as well. That was a stretch. I work for one of the largest Primary Care Group Practices in the state and the majority of our patients are Medicare Advantaged. We are paid a set rate per person – so – this doesn’t determine a physician’s salary or what they can make – it’s a group bargaining agreement for services. However, if they go lower than what the current rates are – it will severely effect coverage and physician pay.
8 – The fear here is Cass Sunstein and Zeke Emmanuel – both of them support cutting of health services to the elderly. While I don’t believe the language has “death panels” in it – it doesn’t exactly close the loop either. Just look at the latest government language regarding the future H1N1 vaccines – the elderly are no longer the first on the list – they are now the last on the list for receiving the vaccine – a complete turnaround from decades of health care practice and inoculation. It’s not a far stretch for them to be able to make this claim – but – as written – I’m with you on this one.
9 – Again – I’m with ya on this one. Most plans that have mental health benefits cover marriage and family coverage. That doesn’t mean that my employer gets to tell the counselor how he wants my marriage and family to develop and behave. This is just ensuring coverage for these services are provided.
Good analysis – as you can see – I agree and disagree – but – you’ve done more than many. In fact, you’ve done more than our own representatives have done.
Rodney Sutton presents Democracy For Dummies posted at Happy Hog Speaks!.
“Good hair.” Good one. Not much different than what we are hearing now – “He’s not Bush.”
That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of The BoBo Carnival of Politics using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.
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I will be glad to add your submissions – even if you have a blog that has nothing to do with politics as long as the post you submit actually does have some relevance.
