Please read this analysis of just one of the disincentives built in to a Progressivist dream, in this case ObamaCare. The premiums will be higher on the new policies mandated to cover every person in every health care situation, even after they become sick and haven't been paying premiums.
Lower income people will get subsidies to help pay those new higher health insurance premiums. Those subsidies will start at 100% of the premium, about $24,000/year for a family of four at zero income, and phase out as income rise to $100,000/year.
This an effective tax rate of 24%. Don't agree?
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Calling All Purple State Birthers (The Disclaimer)
A couple of you have sent me info about the President's birthplace. If you were thinking of sending me something on the subject, please don't. I meant what I said about not being willing to go there. Neither do I want to spend any time following the theories.
People pursuing this are wasting their time until they can challenge his eligibility in the appropriate court, and have lawyers prepared to do it. My interest begins only when some court agrees to hear their case.
People pursuing this are wasting their time until they can challenge his eligibility in the appropriate court, and have lawyers prepared to do it. My interest begins only when some court agrees to hear their case.
Calling All Purple State Birthers
The surest way for a public figure to get disrespect from the mainstream media today is to say that he thinks that the Awesome O does not meet the constitutional requirements to be President. I won't go there. I do think its worth knowing the state of the law on the subject, including how someone's qualifications for the office might be effectively challenged. A little background goes a long way when you are accosted by someone with an overpowering belief in conspiracy theories, or are forced to listen to Jim Villanucci deal with such people.
The Obfuscator in Chief Speaks
The Awesome Obama (TAO) addressed the nation from George Washington University in DC on Wednesday, ostensibly to deliver his administration's budget counterproposal to Paul Ryan's plan. I didn't listen and I bet you didn't either.
Reactions from known partisans have mostly been predictable. Just read through the titles and authors at the morning-after RealClearPolitics.com. Generally, pundits on the right point out that TAO used the occasion for a partisan attack to obfuscate the complete absence of a plan, while the leftist writers display tingly-leg enthusiasm for the voice of reason and judgement's descent from Olympian heights into the pit as bare-knuckled brawler. Of course, those descriptions are not inconsistent....
Reactions from known partisans have mostly been predictable. Just read through the titles and authors at the morning-after RealClearPolitics.com. Generally, pundits on the right point out that TAO used the occasion for a partisan attack to obfuscate the complete absence of a plan, while the leftist writers display tingly-leg enthusiasm for the voice of reason and judgement's descent from Olympian heights into the pit as bare-knuckled brawler. Of course, those descriptions are not inconsistent....
How to Use The Debt Limit Votes (Tea Party On -- Part II)
Here is something you may not have heard about last Friday night's budget deal: Harry Reid agreed to a debate and vote in the Senate on the House-passed bill for repeal of ObamaCare. That has the potential to drag in enough class-of-2006 Red State Democrat Senators to put the repeal bill on the Awesome O's desk to veto. How amazing is that?
In case you think that Friday's 2011 budget victory was small, remember that in politics as in war, the goal is to demoralize your enemy so that he no longer has the will to fight.
In case you think that Friday's 2011 budget victory was small, remember that in politics as in war, the goal is to demoralize your enemy so that he no longer has the will to fight.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court Election
If all of the talk of the Impending Government Shutdown -- Ooooo! -- distracted you, you might have missed the developments in Wisconsin, where a State Supreme Court election took on all the significance of an off-year Congressional election.
There, Wisconsin public employee unions, enraged by the duly elected legislature and governor's perfectly legal actions to weaken their collective bargaining stranglehold on Wisconsin government, threw everything they could against a sitting Republican justice to try to elect a Democrat who openly vowed to overturn the legislation.
On Wednesday morning after the election, it looked like their efforts had been successful and the Democrat had won by 200 votes. But then Thursday came,
There, Wisconsin public employee unions, enraged by the duly elected legislature and governor's perfectly legal actions to weaken their collective bargaining stranglehold on Wisconsin government, threw everything they could against a sitting Republican justice to try to elect a Democrat who openly vowed to overturn the legislation.
On Wednesday morning after the election, it looked like their efforts had been successful and the Democrat had won by 200 votes. But then Thursday came,
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Intermanitarian Huventionism and Tother Opics
Sherry and I are staying once again in Washington, DC at the J.W. Marriott Hotel. We prefer the Pennsylvania Avenue view rooms that overlook Freedom Plaza, with its inlaid stone depiction of L'Enfant's plan for Washington shown here. The view from those rooms include the DC City Hall and the Ronald Reagan Building, complete with its amphitheater where the Capitol Steps perform a satirical political revue every Friday and Saturday night. This time we're actually tucked into an interior corner of the face of the building, so Reagan building is not visible, but nevertheless, last night we crossed E Street and then Pennsylvania Avenue, and took in the revue.
Most of the skits -- over 70% by Sherry's count -- lampooned the right, and weren't even witty in doing so. However, one bit they have used again and again over the years had us rolling on the floor laughing hours later. Known as Lirty Dies, it uses spoonerisms -- reversing the initial consonants of two nearby words in a sentence -- to great effect.
Most of the skits -- over 70% by Sherry's count -- lampooned the right, and weren't even witty in doing so. However, one bit they have used again and again over the years had us rolling on the floor laughing hours later. Known as Lirty Dies, it uses spoonerisms -- reversing the initial consonants of two nearby words in a sentence -- to great effect.
A Letter of Gratitude to Congressman Stevan Pearce
The Honorable Congressman Steven Pearce
The House of Representatives
Washington, DC
Dear Congressman Pearce,
Sherry and I watched the House vote just after midnight last night on HR 1363, providing an extension of the continuing resolution until Friday, April 15. This morning I looked up the roll call vote here, and found that yours was one of 28 Republican votes against this brief CR.
We thank you for that vote, and for all your other votes against these CRs. We agree that these are but timid steps against spending increases that are completely crazy, and we feel that your vote and those of your courageous colleagues are the only thing keeping your leadership's feet to the fire.
Keep fighting the good fight.
The House of Representatives
Washington, DC
Dear Congressman Pearce,
Sherry and I watched the House vote just after midnight last night on HR 1363, providing an extension of the continuing resolution until Friday, April 15. This morning I looked up the roll call vote here, and found that yours was one of 28 Republican votes against this brief CR.
We thank you for that vote, and for all your other votes against these CRs. We agree that these are but timid steps against spending increases that are completely crazy, and we feel that your vote and those of your courageous colleagues are the only thing keeping your leadership's feet to the fire.
Keep fighting the good fight.
Tea Party On
Though you might think the 2011 budget deal pending after Friday night's extension of the continuing resolution indicates that the Tea Party tsunami has subsided after breaking upon Washington, yet in reality it rolls on.
It is true that the proposed deal to cut $38.5B from 2011 appropriations seems modest compared to the $100B rollback of discretionary spending to 2008 levels that the Republican party sought and even tinier in comparison to the $4T expenditure, but is also true that it is probably all that we could have hoped for. It is also more than 60% of the $61B that the caucus agreed to seek from the Democrat President and Senate. While that cut in spending is a tiny couple of tenths of a percent, it is nevertheless a cut in spending -- that rarest of things in Washington -- and in fact is the largest in history.
It is true that the proposed deal to cut $38.5B from 2011 appropriations seems modest compared to the $100B rollback of discretionary spending to 2008 levels that the Republican party sought and even tinier in comparison to the $4T expenditure, but is also true that it is probably all that we could have hoped for. It is also more than 60% of the $61B that the caucus agreed to seek from the Democrat President and Senate. While that cut in spending is a tiny couple of tenths of a percent, it is nevertheless a cut in spending -- that rarest of things in Washington -- and in fact is the largest in history.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Romney Arrives at Tea Party
Romney got the message from Sherry. Maybe someone on his staff googled "What Romney ought to say about RomneyCare."
Be sure to read down to this:
That may work during the general election if he is the nominee, but during the primary, the question from conservatives will be, "Why so late to the tea party, Mitt?"
Or, "Where were you during the debate on the (Un)Affordable Health (Don't)Care Act?"
Be sure to read down to this:
- Why didn't you ask if this was an experiment, what worked and what didn't and I would have told him, I know, what you're doing, Mr. President, is going to bankrupt us.
That may work during the general election if he is the nominee, but during the primary, the question from conservatives will be, "Why so late to the tea party, Mitt?"
Or, "Where were you during the debate on the (Un)Affordable Health (Don't)Care Act?"
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