WolfTwo

A lot has been talked about with regards to Health Care in the US and some look at the Canadian system as an example of Government run Health Care.  Although I don’t agree with Government programs, I would say this.  Is the Canadian System as terrible (like the world would come apart if US adopted such a system), I would say no.  However it does have some problems. 

• Long waits
• Some rationed (not a lot) care
• Shortage of Doctors (government pay structure does not pay that well)
• Less innovation (due to not that much money to put towards Research and Development)
• Very costly (government run anything is way over costly)
• Abuses (usage of emergency care when not required or Doc’s double billing)
• One positive for the Canadian system is more people are covered, however gains here are negated by the above. 

Here is what I would say there are problem with this system but probably no more so as the problems with the US system.  US system has:

• Abuses (usage of emergency care when not required or Doc’s double billing)
• Government involvement drives costs up (Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP all government run)
• Liability laws (the worst in the world) .  This MUST BE ADDRESSED, Doctors are human people they make mistakes, only allow Gross Neglance cases thru.
• Not everyone covered (very small percentage though)

Some pluses of the US System

• More Docs (attracted as pay is better)
• More innovation (there are dollars to spend on Research and Development)
• If you cannot get insurance there is Medicare (for seniors), Medicaid (for low income), and SCHIP (for the children) although this is also a negative.

Here is what bothers me about Government health care (any government program really), it is Government period.

• Once they are involved cost go up, problems arise so more bad programs get created, and costs go up. 
• Freedom lost (individual unalienable rights).   This is huge, everyone should get upset about this.
  • I have no choice to pay into it whether I use it or not, If I want to be charitable I will be on my terms not someone Else’s terms.
  • What about the Doctors rights to their own labor, it is being stolen by the government and handed out to whomever the government sees fit. 
  • Goverment will start telling me what I can eat, drink, or do because it may cause rising costs.  Very wrong.
• Health Care is not a Right (see Freedom Lost above)
• Government programs create an Entitlement attitude.  No one owes the next person a damn thing let alone government.  OH I get upset with this just as much as the Health Care being a right.
• Government programs are not FREE they cost you in higher TAXES.  Government can only get money a three ways, TAXES, Borrow it, or Print it.   All three hurt the economy period. 

Solution, Get government out of Business, out of trying to solve economic issues, out of trying to solve social issues, and let me and my doctor negotiate what is best for me.

And this is all I have to say about that.

A Good Friend of mine asked a question.  If you could create a billboard advertising for any message that you would like to get out to people what would it be?

Here are some of his responses that I thought were worth sharing.  Let me know what you think.

In several I can picture a child’s photo or drawing to add impact.   The reason is if we won’t stop this for our benefit or because we think it is right then maybe we would be motivated to protect those we care about.     I’ve used the debt figure of 186,717 for every man woman and child form a web site that had the figure based on estimated the national obligations (including the unfunded Medicare and SSN) amount to be 58 trillion.  That number is out of date now but I don’t have a source for the current amount.

 
Czars are wrong
- The Bill of Rights.

They swore to uphold the constitution - and won’t we swear to vote them out - and will

Don’t rob their future   with government bailouts
save their future stop government spending

Your children deserve a future
the government is putting them in debt

Still think they are working FOR you?

You wouldn’t sell your child for money.
Why sell their future?
National Debt + Government Deficits = your child’s future.
They need your help.

How will you explain to your child that they owe Uncle Sam back taxes?
National Debt + Government Spending = your child owns $186,717 and growing every day.

Taxation Without Representation
Every child is born owing Uncle Sam $186,717 and it is growing every day.
It is time to stop.

If every person in America worked full time at $10 an hour and gave 100% of their income to Uncle Sam…
How long would it take to pay off our debt?    Over 9 years.

The government works for you
so why are they putting your children in debt?
They need your help to stop the government spending.

Government spending is where
you take a drink
your child gets the hangover
Stop government spending

Would you rather FEEL good or DO good?
Government Spending = Feel Good Now
Children pay the bill.

Why did you let
The Government
Steal your child’s future?

The government is stealing
your child’s future
by putting them in debt

Your child’s future should be a flower garden
not government dump of debt

What would you give up to keep your Freedom?

William Wallace to the death was all about Freedom.  The Declaration of Arbroath of 1302, the Scottish wrote a letter to the Pope.

For so long as but a hundred of us remain alive, we will in no way yield ourselves to the dominion of the English. For it is not for glory, nor riches, nor honor that we fight, but for Freedom, which no good man lays down but with his life.

But now I think we in America are willing to just throw up our arms and say it does not affect me so I don’t care.

Well my opinion is that we should all be standing up and telling (peacably) the government to stop the stupidity and listen to us for a change. 

Lets get back to the Constitution and quit trying to imposse the needs of the few on the many.

Wizards First Rule

People are stupid; given proper motivation, almost anyone will believe almost anything. Because people are stupid, they will believe a lie because they want to believe it’s true, or because they’re afraid it might be true. Peoples’ heads are full of knowledge, facts and beliefs, and most of it is false, yet they think it all true. People are stupid; they can only rarely tell the difference between a lie and the truth, and yet they are confident they can, and so are all the easier to fool.

Wizards Second Rule

The greatest harm can result from the best of intentions.

Wizards Third Rule

Passion rules reason.

First I want to give credit where credit is due; these rules are from “The Sword of Truth” book series from Terry Goodkind, a fabulous series.

The current Political situation reminds me of these three Wizards rules.  I believe it starts with the second rule, where the administration and Congress (current and past), both think what they do is for the best for all of America.  Then they will feed the people, thru the biased media, the propaganda using the first rule feeding on our passion, the third rule.

Think about it.  How many times in the past 8-10 months have we heard; we have to do something right now and if we don’t the whole economy falls apart?  And no one wants the economy to fall apart.  Then they make us look at some other issue, say like the AIG Bonuses, and do something else, propaganda.  What about healthcare?  If I say I don’t think we need a public healthcare system, then they make it out like I am heartless, even though we know that a public system will stifle medical innovations and cost a lot more.

So my suggestion is; First don’t just believe things because the media pronounces it, or the president himself says you should; Second remember to use your reason, recognize your passions and control it so you can use your reason; And lastly when you think you are doing the right thing, question it still.

For Government; I always thought that the people we elect were more intelligent.  The definition of insanity is doing the same things over and over and expecting different results.

1.       Why do you think it is your responsibility to save the day?

2.       You need to see this article by Col. David Crockett
US Representative from Tennessee http://www.notyourstogive.com/.

3.       Who is it the House of Representative’s represents? And the Senate?

4.       Why is it then that even though everyone, or at the very least a healthy majority, in the U.S. are against Government Bailouts or Stimulus packages and you keep doing them? 

5.       Do you really honestly think we are stupid and cannot figure things out?  It does not take an economist to figure out that creating more debt does not help or throwing good money after bad works.  When standing in a whole digging a bigger whole does not get you out of that whole.

6.       Do you think that giving money to companies gets the economy going?  Simple economics tells you that you must have a need for something before you can produce that something.  But what we hear you saying is build it they will come, a bit backwards don’t you think (see supply and demand rules).

7.       Economies go up and they come down, if they go up too much fairly quickly then will come down a bit harder.  Simple right?

8.       Do you believe in a free market economy?  I really don’t think there is any middle ground, either you do or you don’t, and whatever your answer you have to live with it and the consequences of that answer.  There is a saying “You live by the sword, you die by the sword”.  Or in your case “You live by free enterprise, and you die with free enterprise”.  And in the long run this is much better and makes the economy much stronger, weeds out the weak.  I know there is going to be some short term suffering and I hate to see that but that is also life, we all have those times in our life.  Now I am not cold hearted and I will do what I can personally to help the suffering.

9.       Why isn’t it ok to let GM go bankrupt?  First I know people who are staunch GM owners and they will keep buying their products.  Then GM will have to prove themselves to the rest of the people over time, and they will be stronger for it.

10.   If GM were to go completely out of business, don’t you think some other company will have to pick up the slack?  There is a demand, even though it is not as big as it used to be, for vehicles of all kinds so that demand just does not disappear because they do.  (Again see supply and demand rules).

11.   It was a mistake to have a financial bailout and a bailout of AIG, they should have been left to fail and either they come back stronger or die trying, which is the law of free market.  Simple.

For Big three executives (including the board of Directors); I always thought that Exec’s and board of directors were more intelligent.  The definition of insanity is doing the same things over and over and expecting different results.

1.       Why did you wait so long to seek help

2.       Why have things not changed before now

3.       For the board of directors, why haven’t you replaced the executives before now?  Most companies would have done it ages ago.

4.       Why do you expect Government to flip the bill? I always thought it was PRIVATE enterprise not public (nothing to do with going public as in stocks).  Government should stay out of business and business should stay out of government

5.       How does creating more debt help you get out of debt?

6.       So you get more money to produce more and maybe even better cars, how does that get people to buy more cars (see supply and demand rules).

7.       If you do declare bankruptcy why is it you don’t think people will buy from you again?  First I know people who are staunch GM owners or Chrysler owners or Ford owners, they will keep buying your products.  Then the rest of the people you just have to prove yourself again, you had to when you started the company do it again.

8.       If you go completely out of business, don’t you think some other company will have to pick up the slack?  There is a demand, even though it is not as big as it used to be, for vehicles of all kinds so that demand just does not disappear because you do.  (Again see supply and demand rules).

9.       Look I hope some or all of you find a way to better your businesses, but leave the taxpayer out of it, it is not their responsibility.  It will all work out one way or another, and IMHO it will be better in the long run and make us stronger if you do.

10.   There is a saying “You live by the sword, you die by the sword”.  Or in your case “You live by free enterprise, and you die by free enterprise”.  And in the long run this is much better and makes the economy much stronger, weeds out the weak.  I know there is going to be some short term suffering and I hate to see that but that is also life, we all have those times in our life.  Now I am not cold hearted and I will do what I can personally to help the suffering.

So you aspire to logic, reason, and personal responsibility, what next? Well how about solving the worlds problems? Seems kinda strange that I say that, but what is that saying, if you want to change the world you have to look at the man in the mirror. So we take personal responisbility for our own actions and stop blaming others or other things for our own stuff. Do that and start now and a big change is in store for you, you then gain control of your life.

Use Reason and logic to understand your life and values, and don’t bend those values withour first applying logic and reason (or reason and logic).

If we all did this it would start rubbing off on others, and eventually rub off on those that run big corporations and govenment. Because lord knows they, a lot of times, do not use reason and logic and live by their values.

A pesonal note and pet passion for me.. Get out of debt if you have it.. it will free you like nothing else can. Debt goes against reason and logic and cripples us from getting those things in our life that are more meaningful. If you want further info on this leave a comment or email me I would be glad to share my thoughts and views of how I am doing this for myself and family.

I am a strong believer in Logic and Reason, and personal responsibility. So that is why I wanted to write my view points down here. I also believe most people would agree with that,so why don’t more show it? To do the right thing because it is right? I want to call on anyone who reads this to really look at themselves and see if any of this rings true.

This in my humble opinion is the starting point to recovery for each of us and as a nation as well. I would also challenge everyone to read and understand the constitution and the declaration of independance, which again IMHO is lacking for some reason. If you truly understand these documents you quickly come to realize that the people involved in writing these documents where very intellegent INDIVIDUALS. I highlighted that becuase it is so important that we all recognise our selves and how we are as indiiduals.

No “I” in team. I think that is a bunch of BS. A team (or any group, including country) is made up of individauls, that each bring something important to the team. If I am a leader looking at a team I have a lot of eyes (”I”’s) looking back at me.

So I know I have gone in a couple different directions but here it why. First each of us are individuals and bring important things to the table. That coupled with Logic, reason and personal responsibility will, I have NO DOUBT, change the country, and the world.

Well it has been a while, I really wanted to get to this before vacation, but you know what that can be like with everything you have to do to get ready to go on vacation.

So my last post was in regards to alternate energy and keeping things simple, this post I want to talk about the reasons why we need alternate energies and not using the wrong reasons. For example, seat belt laws, should the reason be so you wearing a seat belt will save your life, or should it the resaon be it could possibly help keep you in control of the vehicle and save someone elses life? My thinking is that the second is a valid reason, as the first one is no one elses business but my own.  The same would go for Gun laws they need to be made for the right reasons, and as I said in my last post kept simple and made using common sense.  Alternate energy is no different. (oh and I am sure everyone agrees kept simple and common sense are not used in law making of any sort).

So how does this apply to alternate energy solutions, well what would make people want to switch to new alternate energies? In my experience, and in my opinion, I think we should not be looking it as saving the environment. Although that is a great reason and I support saving the environment (if it requires saving), I think that it boils down to this; It has to do with ones pocket book and how does it effect my bottom line. Yes it is that simple, I would love a hybrid car that gets 55+ mpg, however it would cost me about $5,000 over a similar non-hybrid vehicle and it would take (depending on the price of a gallon of gas) about 5 years to make that difference and then I probably want or need a new car anyway, so there is no cost saving in it for me. I flat out would not do it just to save the environment.

Now I did go out and switch all my light bulbs to CFL’s because they did not cost my a lot more and I see savings very quickly on my electric bill, I win and the environment wins, I like that.

I truly believe in the KISS principle. The simpler things are the better they tend to be, the more complex, the more difficult and problematic they become. I am a Sr. Software Engineer and try to apply this rule to all systems that I design and to all programs I write. It works. Many things in our society could use this principle like education, law, politics (well we could try), even our current crisis of Energy dependance.

The other thing that I think about is thinking outside the box. Again in my job I have to always think outside the box, mind you not everyone in Software development does. But if you think about it anything that we use today was developed because someone decided to think outside the box. Lets get back to that for this crises as well, I bet we would see amazing results. However do we need someone to challenge the scientific community to do this, like we did with going to the moon, or even before that and the Hydrogen bomb?

Also everyone is looking for the silver bullet. Why not have serveral silver bullets? We need a paridigm change in the way we do business. We can have the big wind/solar farms, sure, but why not also include individual homes having their own energy independance? How about a true hybrid car? Make it completely run on electric but have serveral source of electricity, like current static electricity from braking, coupled with a smaller bit of solar electricity, coupled with some electricity from a turbine turned by the wind that goes by your car as you move thru it, coupled with a turbine turned by wheels of your car, coupled with a turbine turned by a small gas/propane/ng motor, OR any combination of the above. These turnbines don’t have to be the end all to the whole system, small easy to turn (to use less energy to get more energy) systems that combine to be the whole.

So to put it to everyone. Challenge yourselves, challenge your community leaders, challenge the scientifc community, to think outside the box and lets get it done. Simply.

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