Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Remembering a Giant

The period of National Morning has begun, and US Flags on all Federal Buildings and Post Offices have been ordered flown at half staff by the President. The funeral plans have been announced by the family and Senator Edward M. Kennedy (d) Mass. will be buried with his brother's John and Robert at Arlington National Cemetery.

Regardless of your political leanings or what you believe happened that faithful night at Chappaquiddick one thing is certain, Senator Edward M. Kennedy was a Giant when it came to anything that happened in Washington for pretty much the last half century. He came from a family that arguably was the closest thing our country has come to Royalty since George Washington turned down the crown after accepting the surrender of the British. Like his brothers President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert F. Kennedy who both fell to assassins bullets in the 1960's he has fought the good fight, and regardless of what anyone else thought. If he believed in something he went after it with every fiber of his being and over his career in politics accomplished many of his goals. His last battle was one he has been waging for many years; the right of all American's to have health care.

Listening to Mr. Rush Limbaugh this morning (Wednesday August 26, 2009) the generally pontificating conservative talk show host spoke with great reverence to Senator Kennedy saying something along these lines. Ironically he fell ill to a serious illness that caused him to have to use the best health care system available in the world, sparing no cost. Of course he would want no less for anyone else. The battle to win health care for all Americans carries on, and perhaps someday it will be won. Whatever we end up with should not be a disgrace to his memory. There is no doubt however his good name will be used for political gain to pass something. Mr. Limbaugh had predicted that upon the Senator's passing that the vulchers would circle and attempt to make political hay out of the misfortune of their fallen colleague. I can recall after the passing of Senator of Paul Wellstone Minnesota in October of 2002 a memorial service was held and it became so politicized that members of Senator Wellstone’s family were so offended they got up and left. Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa led a roaring crowd in a chorus of "Let's do it for Paul" that included a list of everything but the kitchen sink. I was offended and I only saw a clip. I cannot even imagine the agony and embarrassment felt by the family.

The Senator's long bout with brain cancer has been no secret and this day has been coming for many months. Media outlets have had ample time to put together exposes about his life and have them at the ready. They started running some of them within minutes of the announcement that he had died. . Likely these tributes will go on for days, and no doubt television movies about his life will follow. While it is a good thing for us to remember our fallen leaders, it is also good to give some respect to their family and friends. Constant coverage, interviews, etc. can only victimize people who are going through the grieving process. Yes it is true they can turn off the television or not watch the news, but why should they have to be a part of it themselves? A 24 hour news cycle offers no real excuse here. People should be afforded the respect they deserve, and the American people really deserve the same.
I have no doubt that he was a good man. I believe whatever happened at Chappaquiddick forty years ago was not an intentional act; even though the Senator may well bear responsibility, he expressed great sorry and remorse for the loss. Mary Jo Kopechne's death cannot be undone and whatever judgment is to be found has now come to pass. Senator Kennedy’s life has been in no way perfect since that night, but he has unquestionably done a substantial amount of good. I sincerely hope that both families will find peace in due time.

While my political views are for the most part diametrically opposed to Senator Kennedy's having a voice on the other side who can present a passionate argument allows for reasonable people to find common ground that can be made acceptable for all people. No one can be right all of the time, and generally speaking no one is ever completely right any of the time. There is always a second or third approach to a problem that will achieve the same or a reasonable end. Usually the difference ends up being cost or time or both. People talk at each other and not too each other far too much. Little children don't like to share their toys and chairmen of committees rarely ever want to share their gavels. If one thing can be learned from Senator Kennedy it is that if you truly want to get something accomplished you must work with someone across the aisle not against them. He did that, not often, but when he did some important things happened. That is not that is happening right now with this Health Care debate. In his memory perhaps folks on both sides of the isle can come back from their break and be truly bi-partisan. Maybe that way something good might actually happen.

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Cash for Clunkers, Things to Consider…

While the Cash for Clunkers program included in the stimulus package passed earlier this year has caused new cars, albeit mostly foreign models, to roll off the show room floors by the thousands since it went into affect in July, not everyone is happy about the apparent success of the cash giveaway.

The program was designed to take inefficient older model vehicles off the road and replace them with more fuel efficient and more environmentally friendly new models. What it probably did not intend to do is rob automotive repair shops of their main business, repairs of older model cars and trucks. It also probably did not intend to create a windfall profit for salvage yards because only the engine of the Clunker has to be destroyed.

One auto repair shop owner gave an estimate to a customer to have a transmission repaired on a Chrysler minivan recently for $2,500. After some consideration the owner took the vehicle to a Hyundai dealer and traded it for a new car using the Cash for Clunkers program and received a $1,000 rebate on top of the $4,500 incentive from Uncle Sam. Now he has a new car with a 10 year 100,000 mile warranty and no transmission problem and still has his $2,500 in his pocket. The auto repair shop owner has an estimate that won’t ever turn into a repair ticket. If you multiply that by the number of Clunkers traded in the loss of business to auto repair shops is in deed staggering. That is not to say that these cars and trucks would not have eventually found there way to a dealer as a trade or to a junk yard on their own in due course, but the accelerated rate has created a virtual vacuum of business for repair shops everywhere.

Another consequence, although intended in an effort to become a more Green America, is that there are fewer low priced vehicles available for people who are not in the position to either purchase a new car or finance a newer model used car. These cars are generally cars purchased by poor families, second cars for middle class families, and cars used by college students. With the number of cars taken off the road with the Cash for Clunkers program people in lower socioeconomic situations are not going to be able to find affordable transportation.

Lastly, this program amounts to a tax rebate that many families are not able to take advantage of because of their credit worthiness or general financial situation. If they can’t get a new car financed or can’t make payments even if they could, the down payment doesn’t really matter. They could better use the money to pay for rent, health insurance premiums, or maybe even to put food on the table. They are stuck driving their Clunkers with poor gas mileage and paying higher gas prices.

This is just another reason that Members of Congress have to read bills before they are voted on so that reasonable debate can take place and public input can be given before they are signed into law. I’m all for selling new cars, but at what cost and to whom? Let’s think before we pay next time, how about it Congress?

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

The American People Deserve An Apology Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Hoyer!

"These disruptions are occurring because opponents are afraid not just of differing views — but of the facts themselves. Drowning out opposing views is simply un-American. Drowning out the facts is how we failed at this task for decades."

The quote above is taken from the joint Op Ed piece published in USA Today on Monday August 10, 2009 by Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi Democrat from California and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer Democrat from Maryland.

"un-American" is a term that is shocking coming from two of the highest ranking members of the Democratic Party and especially from the person third in succession to the Presidency when referring to vigorous protest of citizen who disagree not only with particular aspects of proposed legislation, but with the process by which that legislation is being crafted and pushed through the Congress.

What did Members of Congress expect to find in their districts when they returned home? Did they expect to find welcoming arms and smiling faces from lemmings willing to walk off cliffs for any measure that Congress came up with and the President signed? How could they honestly do that when they were not given an opportunity to review any of the proposed legislation before it was voted on, and sent to the President for his signature? How could they even find out the particulars of a bill when their elected representatives had not bothered to take the time to read the bills themselves before voting on them? Now Congress is trying to change something that will without question change the lives of every living American citizen and future generations as far as the mind can comprehend. Bills from 3 separate committees in the House are floating around to be reconciled into HR 3200 America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009. Several versions of a similar bill in the Senate are under consideration one of which is not even out of committee. The President claims that he has a health care plan and holds town hall meetings and prime time press conferences in order to discuss it, but has sent no detailed legislation of his on to the Congress and cannot be sure of what the final legislation will look like when it gets to his desk. All of this and it was push push push to have a piece of legislation for consideration before Congress went home for the August Break. People are reading from text provided by the Congress as HR 3200 that states one thing and are being told by members that the language they read will not be in the final bill, or that anything they have heard about it has been trumped up by lies. The American people are confused and upset, and some of them are damn mad.

While it may be true that reasonable discourse cannot take place when people are yelling and screaming at each other or at Members of Congress trying to give answers to questions from their constituents, it is also true that their frustration is real and should not be dismissed out of hand. Claiming that everyone that disagrees with the proposed legislation with a more than timid voice has been put up to being their by a right wing group or special interest is a pretty sad commentary on the understanding of what grass roots politics is all about. Perhaps Members of Congress have been away from their districts in a real way for too long to remember what it was like to go door to door to try to win votes. Neighbors still talk to neighbors and conversations continue unabashed at water fountains. Bingo is played and folks go to Church and at all these places the kinds of things that affect the lives of Americans are discussed. Like it or not, not everyone is affiliated with a hate group or a organization that can be a convenient whipping boy for political purposes. Were that true the labor unions and groups like ACORN would not be struggling for membership? They would not need to have lobbyist on K Street or need to be given preferential treatment in legislation in order that there very existence is preserved.

Protest happen in America all the time. When they happen during Republican administrations they are deemed necessary or vital to getting out the truth. Freedom of Speech is never questioned and community organizing is encouraged to that end. However, now that for the first time since Jimmy Carter was President the Democrats have complete control of the government, decent of any sort is suddenly "un-American" or questionable behavior from an ungrateful or uninformed minority. The polls are consistently running against the Congress and the President on Health Care Reform and it is not simply Republicans included in that majority because they do not make up the majority of Americans. The President promised the American people transparency and to have all of the bills posted on the internet so they could be read before Congress voted on them. Gee… The Auto Bail Out Bill, The Stimulus Bill, and still no posting that I can see… There’s a Cap and Trade Bill working its way through the Senate… and of course this mess with Health Care which is posted but is meaningless because it represents nothing.

If Congress and the President decide to ram some version of Health Care Reform through on a Party Line vote or with a few token Republican votes to call it Bi-Partisan, then the one poll that does count will be in November of 2010 and that one will find them packing their bags and going back to their districts. Maybe that's a good thing. Legislation can always be undone, that's the beauty of our system of Government, nothing in law has to stay permanent given the right steps are followed.

The Speaker of the House and Majority Leader both have grossly overstepped and owe the American people a sincere apology. How likely are they to receive one... Well ask the CIA... they've been waiting a while now for an apology from the Speaker... the jury is still out on the Majority Leader, let's all hope he comes to his senses.

Wednesday, August 05, 2009

Why can’t you read the legislation you vote on Congress?

The grand design of the founders in crafting our constitution was to create a government that did not move too quickly. Decisions made in haste are generally wrong unless of course they are urgent and demand immediate attention as in cases of National Security or Natural Disaster. Otherwise government is supposed to simmer like stew. When all the ingredients are in and it has been properly cooked it’s ready to eat.

With that in mind, why is it so important that bills fly through congress without being read? Surely members of both houses understand it is the job of a Representative or Senator to Legislate which necessarily includes having a full understanding of what it is you are trying to turn into law. That is hardly possible if you cannot find the time to read a bill before you vote on it. If a piece of legislation is more complex than a newspaper to read then it needs to be rewritten until any reasonable person can read it in a reasonable amount of time. Legislation needs to be concise and it needs not to be filled with pages upon pages of bureaucratic nonsense that benefits no one except staff members paid to draft bills on behalf of members that are too busy to read legislation before voting on it. Citizens have a right to know what is in legislation and a degree of certainty that it can be understood by a reasonable person.

Representatives and Senators are in Washington at the behest of the voters. The voters in their Districts and States are not their meal ticket. They are sent to Washington to represent their constituents in a constitutionally limited Republic where the power remains with the people not the government. If they have forgotten that they damn well need to pick up a copy of the Constitution and remind themselves. The framers did not design Congress as a career for anyone. The framers certainly did not foresee lavish offices, large staffs, and pension plans. What they did see was a legislative branch that did their jobs and went home to their Districts and States. Originally the framers did not provide for Senators to be elected directly but rather sent by the legislatures of the several States. Later the Constitution was amended to provide for their direct election.

Congress has embellished itself, honored itself, and elevated itself to the point that they rarely require themselves to follow the same laws they pass for everyone else. Now they are too busy to take time to read the bills they write and send on the President for his signature. Citizens are not allowed an opportunity to fully understand what is included in legislation after the fact. No reading of Article 1 of the Constitution could possible bring anyone to the conclusion that this is nothing less than tyranny. The President under Article 2 has the power to Veto legislation sent to him by the Congress, which in the case of bills that have not been read one would think would be a foregone conclusion. When the President bothers not to read the bill as well and affixes his signature to make the bill a law he becomes equally complicit in tyranny.

Tuesday, August 04, 2009

American Style Health Care Reform That Will Work

Why are you blaming the insurance companies? You are demonizing legitimate American corporations for doing what they are supposed to do, make money for their shareholders. Regardless of whether the company is public or privately held, in a capitalist economy the bottom line is making a profit and they seem to be doing a bang up job. Contrast that with the programs that are run by the US Government like Medicare and Medicaid. Both of these programs are broken with hopelessly bloated bureaucracies and ramped with fraud and abuse from contractors and vendors alike. The US Government could take a lesson from the Insurance Companies when it comes to managing cost and personnel.

It is estimated that up to 1/7th of the US Economy is represented by some part of the health care industry. There is no possible way for any one entity to maintain control over that much money in as many delivery locations as are involved in health care. It frankly boggles the mind that any reasonable person could consider that a bureaucracy could attempt to find a way to do this even in a highly controlled environment such as the US Military. We’ve all seen what can fall between the cracks with military health care, so let’s not even go there.

The bottom line is quite simple; the US Health Care System cannot function without Insurance Companies. No Country in the industrialized world has to manage as many delivery points of health care as we do here in the US and maintain our level of quality. None of those countries have the number of citizens that the US has, and none consume as many prescription medications or take up as many hospital beds. It is a miracle that our system runs as well as it does. We rob Peter to pay Paul every day in order to absorb the cost of those who cannot pay and pass them on to those to can. Universal Healthcare is virtually present as we speak.

There is no question however that serious reform is needed. Medicare has been operating on a non-existent trust fund for decade. Medicaid is busting the budget of nearly every state. That system is woefully in need of reform and repair. It is going to cost all of us money and that has been no secret for a long time; how much money depends on what efficiencies can be found and implemented, and how quickly. Reform in the private sector cannot and will not work until the public sector issues are resolved. Once the changes take place in Medicare and Medicaid, real reforms can be made in the way health care is covered in the private sector.

The first place to start is where the cost is highest and that is in the high premiums paid for liability insurance by physicians, hospitals, and other parts of the medical community driven to a large degree by insanely high jury awards won by the Trial Lawyers. If doctors can work for a reasonable living without fear of losing everything no matter how well he or she does their job, the system cannot work.

The next area of substantial cost is in medication. There should be a standardized formulary for all States, Territories, and the District of Columbia. Doctors should be able to write a prescription for a drug by brand name or as a generic in any size or quantity regardless of where they practice. Hospitals should have the ability to purchase drugs for all of their facilities nationwide, as should pharmacies, long term care facilities, etc. This still protects the patent rights of drug companies, but it makes it much easier for volume purchases to take place across state lines and without more than 50 sets of rules and regulations to accommodate.

The next area is competition in the market place. Small businesses have to be allowed to ban together to purchase insurance in groups so that they have the same purchasing power as large companies. Small businesses often have fewer than 10 employees and many of those employees are part time or older in age. Risks have to be able to be spread more evenly, and that can only happen in more diverse groups. Association Insurance Purchasing has to become a reality in order for premiums to come down to reasonable rates and for more people to be insured.

The next area is expansion of COBRA so that no employee is left without insurance regardless of the amount of time he or she is left without a job. The insurance from the previous job follows them until they find a new job. Once new insurance is in place the COBRA ends. This solves the portability issue without having people maintain ownership of policies or forcing people to buy policies.

The next area is a program to increase the supply of primary care physicians. Medical students should be allowed to have a portion of their educational expenses deferred or excused for service in community hospitals and clinics. If they decide to opt out and go into private practice they can repay their debt to the treasury on a prorated basis. A serious commitment of at least ten years should be required of doctors. A similar program should be developed for highly skilled nurses(RN’s). They provide a huge amount of the health care burden and are depended upon by physicians and patients alike for the delivery of proper and responsible care. Nurses should be given an opportunity to receive an education for service.

Lastly, there should be a commitment to community health care and wellness centers. Hospitals should not be overburdened with insignificant non emergency cases. Lower cost community health care and wellness centers run by doctors and nurses in the program outlined above can extend primary care in both urban and rural areas so that private practices are not over run with a glut of new patients. These centers should be well equipped and focus not only on treatment but on community health education. They should work with local health departments to as part of our Homeland Security efforts and be a focal point for outbreaks of viruses and other disease.

These reforms will make our health care system work. These reforms will give our country the opportunity to remain the best hope for the world where medical science and delivery of health care is concerned. Our citizens deserve no less and they are willing to pay for a system that works. They are not willing to be taxed to death for another bureaucracy that will inevitably fail as all have before.