Health Care Reform: We're Being Fooled Again

The medical system does need reforming -- radical reforming. It's more expensive than it ought to be, and powerful interests prosper at the expense of the rest of us. The status quo has little about it to be admired, and we shouldn't tolerate it.

Thus, the American people should be fed up with Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid for insulting our intelligence with their so-called heath-care reform. It is nothing of the sort. What they call progressive reform is little more than reinforcement of the exploitative system we suffer today.

Whether intentionally or not, Obama & Co. have misdiagnosed the problem with the current system and therefore have issued a toxic prescription as an alleged cure. They essentially say that the problem is too free a market in medical care and insurance; thus for them the solution is a less-free market, that is, more government direction of our health-care-related activities.

Yet if the diagnosis is wrong -- which it is -- the prescription will also be wrong.

Note that the attention of nearly all the "reformers" is on the insurance industry. What ostensibly started out as "health-care reform" quickly became health-insurance regulation. A common theme of all of the leading proposals is that insurance companies have too few restrictions on them. So under Obamacare, government will issue more commands: preexisting conditions must be covered; policy renewal must be guaranteed; premiums may not reflect the health status or sex of policyholders; the difference between premiums charged young and old must be within government specs; lifetime caps on benefits are prohibited, et cetera.

In return for these new federal rules, insurance companies are to have a guaranteed market through a mandate that will require every person to have insurance. So what looks like onerous new regulations on the insurance companies turns out to be a bargain they are happy to accept. Instead of having to innovatively and competitively attract young healthy people to buy their products, the companies will count on the government to compel them to do so. Playing the populist role, Obama & Co. bash the insurance companies, but in fact the "reform" compels everyone to do business with them.

What about this would the insurance companies dislike? Health insurance is not the most profitable business you can be in; the profit margin is 3-4 cents on the dollar. So a guaranteed clientele is an attractive prospect. The people who will be forced to buy policies are the healthy, who will pay premiums and make few claims. The only thing the companies don't like is that that penalty for not complying with the mandate is too small. Many young people may choose to pay the penalty rather than buy the insurance because it will be cheaper. But that presents a problem: when the uninsured get sick and apply for coverage, they won't be turned down because that would be against the law. So look for harsher penalties in the future to prevent this gaming of the system. The insurance companies win again.

What's missed is that the "reformers" leave untouched every aspect of the uncompetitive medical and insurance cartels that exists entirely by virtue of government privilege. Most of this privilege is extended by state governments through monopolistic licensing, but Congress could repeal the prohibition on interstate insurance sales and the tax favoritism for employer-provided medical coverage. The ruling party has refused to consider those sensible moves.

The upshot is that this reform is a fraud. It leaves in place the government-created cartels and throws a few crumbs to people who are struggling -- but mostly by bolstering the insurance monopoly.

Two myths must be shattered. First, the choice is not between this phony reform and the status quo. The "reform" merely puts makeup on the status quo. The free market is the real alternative.

Second, the free market couldn't have created the medical mess because there has been no free market in medicine. For generations government has colluded with the medical profession and the insurance industry to force-feed us the system we have today.

The Who's prayers weren't answered: We are being fooled again.

Copyright © 2010 Future of Freedom Foundation

The FBI is buying sniper weapons.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) intends to award a non-competitive, sole source purchase order to Anzio Ironworks Corporation, 1905 16^th Street N, St. Petersburg, FL 33704 for two (2) Magfed 20mm Rifles and accessories in accordance with FAR 6.302-1, only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

The FBI intends to procure the following items:

Magfed 20mm Rifle with Belgian Camo Overcoat finish. Includes bipod, brake, handguard, free floated barrel and case (Qty: 1 each)

Magfed 20mm Rifle with Navy NWV Camo Duracoat finish. Includes bipod, brake, handguard, free floated barrel and case (Qty: 1 each)

Non-firing bolt assemblies (Qty: 2 each)

Extra magazines (Qty: 4 each)

Suppressors in 20mm (Qty: 2 each)

Based on extensive market research conducted with knowledgeable individuals in Government and the related industry, only one responsible source, Anzio Ironworks Corporation can provide the requested products/service. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, interested parties may identify their interests and capability to respond to this requirement or submit quotes to this office by 2:00PM EST, Monday, December 7, 2009 to Ms. Christina R. Sims via fax @ 703-632-8480 or by email to Christina.Sims@ic.fbi.gov. All correspondence shall reference solicitation number 10-Q-LDQ002768. Phone calls will NOT be accepted. Information received will be used solely to determine whether to conduct a competitive procurement. This contract will be awarded as a commercial item in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation, Parts 12 and 13.5. All contractors anticipating award, must be registered in the Central Contractor Registration Database and the Online Representations and Certifications. In addition, interested parties must also be registered and have completed the On-Line Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA). Information and registration details can be found at http://orca.bpn.gov. This notice will be distributed solely through the General Services Administration's (GSA) Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) website: www.fedbizopps.gov. Interested parties are responsible for monitoring the FBO website to ensure they have the most up-to-date information about this acquisition.

Obamacare To Be Enforced By Armed Thugs

Ron Paul: “If it was a good program and everybody liked it, you wouldn’t need 16,500 thugs coming with their guns and putting you in jail if you didn’t follow all the rules”

If the health care bill was such a positive act of reform, as establishment Democrats and the corporate media are pitching it, then how come it needs to be enforced by means of coercion at the hands of thousands of armed IRS thugs?

That was the context of the discussion during Ron Paul’s appearance on Fox Business’ America’s Nightly Scoreboard last night, as the Congressman continued to speak out against the tyrannical nature of Obamacare.

Paul emphasized the need to protect the private option in health care as a fundamental right for all Americans not to be reliant on the government for their services.

“During this debate they talked a whole lot about the public option, I just wish they would protect the private option, give us a chance to have it private, just like you should have a chance to have private education, home schooling, you should always protect that….if you always had a private option in medicine some of us could survive and at least we could set an example for the type of medicine that the people should be getting,” said the Congressman.

Host David Asman pointed out that it would now be illegal to have private health care and that people would be forced to buy insurance under the constant glare of the 16,000 plus new IRS agents being hired to harass people into compliance to the new program.

Under Obamacare, $10 billion dollars is allocated to pay for 16,500 IRS agents who will collect and enforce mandatory “premiums.”

Paul said that the people who previously needed to carry the least insurance would now be forced to carry the maximum, and be hounded by the IRS as a result.

“This is a command society now and medicine is right at the forefront of this….16,500 armed bureaucrats coming to make this program work – if it was a good program and everybody liked it, you wouldn’t need 16,500 thugs coming with their guns and putting you in jail if you didn’t follow all the rules,” said Paul.

The Congressman highlighted the fact that people don’t trust the government’s record on social programs, pointing out that Medicare, Medicaid and the Post Office are all bankrupt, and that the majority of Americans have little confidence in Obamacare being any different.

Paul said there was a chance parts of the bill would be overturned if Republicans were victorious in November, but that the biggest threat to the legislation was the probability that the entire system would collapse, labeling Obamacare a “Horrendous new burden that we have placed on the economy.”

Watch the clip below.

UK expels Israeli diplomat over Dubai slaying case

LONDON – Britain expelled an Israeli diplomat on Tuesday over the alleged use of forged U.K. passports in the assassination of a Hamas operative in a suspected Mossad hit. It was the first time Britain has ousted an Israeli diplomat in more than 20 years.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband told the House of Commons that the diplomat, who has not been named, was removed from London following an investigation into the use of 12 fake U.K. passports in the Jan. 20 slaying in Dubai of Hamas agent Mahmoud al-Mabhouh.

"We have concluded that there are compelling reasons to believe that Israel was responsible for the misuse of the British passports," Miliband said.

Britain had demanded a formal assurance from Israel that it would never again misuse British passports and warned British citizens that their identity details may be vulnerable if they visit Israel.

Miliband said an investigation by Britain's Serious and Organized Crime Agency found that the forged British passports were copies of authentic documents handed over to Israeli officials for inspection either in Israel or in other countries.

"The fact that this was done by a country which is a friend, with significant diplomatic, cultural, business and personal ties to the U.K., only adds insult to injury. No country or government could stand by in such a situation," Miliband said.

Referring to Mossad, Israel's spy agency, Miliband said "it is highly likely that the forgeries were made by a state intelligence service."

But Miliband said investigations into the killing of al-Mabhouh were continuing and Britain had drawn no conclusions over who was responsible.

Dubai authorities have accused the Mossad of carrying out al-Mabhouh's killing in a luxury hotel room and have identified at least 26 suspects in an alleged hit squad who used forged European and Australian passports to enter Dubai.

France and Ireland are also carrying out similar inquiries into the forgery of French and Irish documents.

Interpol has unveiled a wanted list of 27 people in connection with the slaying. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied any involvement in al-Mabhouh's death.

Israel's ambassador said he was "disappointed by the decision of the British government" but pledged that the two countries would still have close ties.

"The relationship between Israel and the United Kingdom is of mutual importance," said Ron Prosor, Israel's ambassador to the U.K.

At least 15 of the names used by the suspected killers match those of Israeli citizens who are dual nationals of Western countries. All have denied involvement, saying their identities were stolen.

Miliband said in the cases of the 12 British citizens, there was "no evidence to suggest that those 12 were anything other than wholly innocent victims of identity theft."

He said one victim told investigators that "to go to bed a citizen and wake up as a wanted terrorist is shocking."

The expulsion of an Israeli diplomat from London is the first since 1988, when attache Arie Regev was removed for "activities incompatible with diplomatic duties" — a euphemism for espionage. Britain also barred a second Israeli, Jacob Barad, from returning to Britain after his departure in 1987. Both men were suspected of coordinating Mossad activity in the U.K.

Miliband, who said he discussed the case Monday with Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, confirmed that Britain had chosen which diplomat would be expelled and said "it was not a random" choice.

But British and Israeli officials declined to confirm reports that the diplomat was Mossad's London station chief.

Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor declined to comment on whether Israel would take retaliatory action for the expulsion.

_______

Associated Press writers Raphael G. Satter and Gregory Katz in London and Aron Heller and Ian Deitch in Jerusalem contributed to this report

Canada reports mildest winter on record

Sunny, warm weather has fuelled Olympic fever in Vancouver.

Photograph by: Les Bazso, PNG

MONTREAL - Canada jumps into spring after having recorded the mildest and driest winter on record, Environment Canada reported Friday.

The agency, which has compiled data from 1948, determined the average temperature throughout the country was four degrees Celsius above normal, said meteorologist Andre Cantin.

Cantin said the country also saw 20 per cent less precipitation than normal, also a record.

El Nino, the climate pattern in the Pacific Ocean that influences global weather, was likely responsible for the freakish weather, according to Cantin, who noted that changes in climate may also have played a role.

The unusual winter wreaked havoc at the Winter Olympics at venues near Vancouver, where a shortage of snow delayed many events.

Some Arctic areas were warmer and the north of Quebec province was six degrees Celsius above the norm.

© Copyright (c) AFP

Healthcare Reform Passes

Following months of heated public debate and aggressive closed-door negotiations, Congress finally cast a historic vote on healthcare late Sunday evening. It was truly a sad weekend on the House floor as we witnessed further dismantling of the Constitution, disregard of the will of the people, explosive expansion of the reach of government, unprecedented corporate favoritism, and the impending end of quality healthcare as we know it.

Those in favor of this bill touted their good intentions of ensuring quality healthcare for all Americans, as if those of us against the bill are against good medical care. They cite fanciful statistics of deficit reduction, while simultaneously planning to expand the already struggling medical welfare programs we currently have.

They somehow think that healthcare in this country will be improved by swelling our welfare rolls and cutting reimbursement payments to doctors who are already losing money. It is estimated that thousands of doctors will be economically forced out of the profession should this government fuzzy math actually try to become healthcare reality. No one has thought to ask what good mandatory health insurance will be if people can’t find a doctor.

Legislative hopes and dreams don’t always stand up well against economic realities.

Frustratingly, this legislation does not deal at all with the real reasons access to healthcare is a struggle for so many – the astronomical costs. If tort reform was seriously discussed, if the massive regulatory burden on healthcare was reduced and reformed, if the free market was allowed to function and apply downward pressure on healthcare costs as it does with everything else, perhaps people wouldn’t be so beholden to insurance companies in the first place.

If costs were lowered, more people could simply pay for what they need out of pocket, as they were able to do before government got so involved. Instead, in the name of going after greedy insurance companies, the federal government is going to make people even more beholden to them by mandating that everyone buy their product!

Hefty fines are due from anyone found to have committed the heinous crime of not being a customer of a health insurance company. We will need to hire some 16,500 new IRS agents to police compliance with all these new mandates and administer various fines. So in government terms, this is also a jobs bill. Never mind that this program is also likely to cost the private sector some 5 million jobs.

Of course, the most troubling aspect of this bill is that it is so blatantly unconstitutional and contrary to the ideals of liberty. Nowhere in the constitution is there anything approaching authority for the Federal government to do any of this.

The founders would have been horrified at the idea of government forcing citizens to become consumers of a particular product from certain government approved companies. 38 states are said to already be preparing legal and constitutional challenges to this legislation, and if the courts stand by their oaths, they will win. Protecting the right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, should be the court’s responsibility.

Citizens have a responsibility over their own life, but they also have the liberty to choose how they will live and protect their lives. Healthcare choices are a part of liberty, another part that is being stripped away. Government interference in healthcare has already infringed on choices available to people, but rather than getting out of the way, it is entrenching itself, and its corporatist cronies, even more deeply.

Broadband plan would vastly expand government power over the Internet

Statements by Competitive Enterprise Institute telecom policy analysts on the FCC’s National Broadband Plan:

Wayne Crews, vice president for Policy Competitive Enterprise Institute —

The FCC deserves praise for acknowledging the importance of competition among technologies as a key ingredient for promoting a national broadband policy. At the same time, unfortunately, the Commission’s plan seeks new realms to rule even as the very need for regulation evaporates.

America’s challenge is not for the FCC to ‘do something’ in the communications and Internet realm, but rather to dismantle obsolete regulatory impediments that constrain the market’s freedom to expand infrastructure and content access. If we were starting from a clean slate in today’s world, we wouldn’t create a Federal Communications Commission with command over price, entry and services.

If ever an economic sector needed a coherent vision for substantial liberalization, broadband is it. The Internet has been among mankind’s most liberating technologies, erasing the constraints of distance and information scarcity while making broadcasters out of billions of people. Today’s communications landscape has empowered individuals to speak and exchange ideas in ways that our nation’s framers could never have imagined.

Ryan Radia, associate director of Technology Studies Competitive Enterprise Institute —

A year ago, Congress tasked the FCC with developing a plan for promoting broadband access and adoption throughout the United States. Unfortunately, the Commission seems to have interpreted this mandate as a license to vastly expand its regulatory powers in spheres ranging from energy to health care to education. These proposals endanger Internet freedom and threaten to further subjugate the broadband market to political manipulation.

The national broadband plan proposes the creation of numerous new federal programs designed to bring America closer to “universal” broadband access. But as the Universal Service Fund has illustrated, government-centric efforts to expand telecommunications networks suffer from inefficiencies, waste, and fraud. Actual consumer demand should drive the growth of broadband networks, not government slush funds. Federal programs to subsidize the expansion of broadband service, whether funded via new taxes on broadband users or spectrum auction proceeds, amount to economically destructive wealth-redistribution schemes that divert resources from productive uses to unproductive ones.

The FCC’s proposals to expand access to spectrum should come as welcome news to consumers of mobile telecom services. If the airwaves are to realize their full potential, however, the Commission must resist the temptation to intervene in spectrum markets by imposing “public interest” conditions or other artificial constraints that have plagued past spectrum auctions. Such attempts by the agency to steer the future of the communications and broadband markets in politically favored directions threaten to harm consumers and obstruct the creation of telecommunications wealth.

Source: KPBJ