Psychobob's Musings

Hypocrisy on the March!

noreply@blogger.com (psychobob) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:46:00 +0000

Wednesday the House passed "sweeping" reform of the financial industry regulation (HR 4173). Barney Frank said, "I disagree vehemently that the American people think that the status quo with the financial industry was a good one."
Here he is bloviating (along with Republicans criticizing):

Too bad Frank and the Democrats blocked regulation back in 2004 before the financial meltdown that has led to the worst economy since the Great Depression. Of course in 2004 they weren't in power and were trying to stop anything the Republicans were doing, from legislation to federal judges.

Here is a video of Democrats criticizing attempts to regulate Freddie and Fannie. Look for these gems:

0:50 - Maxine Waters says the Republicans are trying to fix something that isn't broken, and that there is no crisis with Freddy Mac and Fannie Mae.
1:30 - Gregory Meeks says "There has been nothing indicating there is anything wrong."
5:04 - Barney Frank says there is nothing wrong.
5:30 - Maxine Waters says Congress should not block Freddy and Fannie from giving out more zero down (risky subprime) loans.
6:15 - Frnak says concern over Freddy and Fannie is a shibboleth, and sees "no issue" with them."
7:50 - Frank Raines says the loans Freddy is making are "riskless."

The Republicans want these amendments to HR 4173:

Phases out taxpayer subsidies of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and privatizes the entities over a number of years.
Sunsets the current conservatorships and places both institutions in receivership if they are not financially viable.
If they are viable, requires wind down of agencies if their charters are not renewed in three years.
Requires reductions in the portfolios of the two companies, emphasizes the promotion of housing affordability, and requires SEC registration as well as reverses all tax exemptions.
Lowers conforming loan limit in high cost areas and prohibits GSEs from buying any loan that is above the area median home price in its area - effectively lowering conforming loan limits in much of the country.

The House Financial Services Committee (chaired by Barney Frank) put out this response about the Republican attempts to regulate Freddie Fannie through ammendments to HR 4173. Keep in mind what the Democrats said and did in 2004 while reading this (I bolded the great parts):

Let’s review the pitiful record of Republicans and the GSE [Government Sponsored Enterprises]. First they ignored the problem for years, having never passed reform legislation for the first 10 years (1995-2005) of Republican rule in the House of Representatives. Second, the only Republican reform bill to ever get a vote in Congress was opposed by a Republican President. Third, President Bush, over the objections of House Democrats, pushed Fannie and Freddie into riskier and riskier mortgages with a philosophy of homeownership at any cost. And finally, President Bush bails them out. When Democrats took over in 2007, Barney Frank worked with the Bush Administration and over the objections of most Republicans in the House passed Fannie and Freddie reform within 5 months of taking over the majority. The only Fannie and Freddie reform bill signed by President Bush was authored by Barney Frank and Chris Dodd. Republicans want you to believe that they are serious about the problems associated with Fannie and Freddie, but it is smoke and mirrors. House Democrats are committed to addressing the Fannie and Freddie issues with substantive, thoughtful reform when Congress convenes next year.

Republicans "ignored" the problems? In 2003 the Bush administration and Congress tried to pass legislation that would have regulated the risks Fannie and Freddie were taking on. They were worried that the two corporations were becoming too big too fast and were headed toward financial problems. Democrats blocked this legislation.

In September 2003, the illustrious Barney Frank said,"These two entities -- Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac -- are not facing any kind of financial crisis. The more people exaggerate these problems, the more pressure there is on these companies, the less we will see in terms of affordable housing."

The "reform" Frank takes credit for in 2007? Increasing Freddie and Fannie's involvement in the mortgage market and raising the limit of the mortgages they could finance.

Hypocrisy on the March!

Distortions on the March!

noreply@blogger.com (psychobob) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 19:14:00 +0000

Do you remember those old World War 2 United Newsreels that start with marching soldiers, evoking the imagery of freedom on the march? I've decided to parody that feeling with

Distortions on the March!

I was reading an opinion piece today in the Washington Examiner about a story on a left-wing think-tank (Center for American Progress Action Fund) website purporting to have found the "billionaire boogymen" behind the conservative backlash against the Democrats in Washington. A little background information will help us understand why the story is ironic, to say the least.

The CAPAF was founded by John Podesta, one-time chief of staff for the Clinton administration, who ran Obama's "transition" team and is now an "outside advisor" to the Obama administration. The CAPAF is funded by Herbert and Marion Sandler. The Sandlers became billionaires through Golden West Financial Corporation, which they sold to Wachovia for $25 billion in 2006. The sale included $122 billion in adjustable rate mortgages. At the time, Wachovia claimed Golden West was the "crown jewel" of its divisions. By 2008, Wachovia's stock price had lost 75% of its value, mainly due to bad loans made by Golden West while the Sandlers were in charge.

Another billionaire, George Soros, gave the center a measly $1 million.

I went to the Progress Report's website to see the story itself. It is called, "Radical Right: The Billionaires Behind the Hate."

The "billionaires," in this case, are not financial industry crooks like the Sandlers and Soros. They are the Koch brothers. Again, a little background information. Koch industries is the second largest privately held corporation in the U.S. It was founded in 1940 as a commodities company, and has expanded to all kinds of manufacturing interests. Koch industries makes stuff - in America. Although Koch has been fined for environmental damages, they have also contributed millions to various conservation programs. Even the CAPAF admits Koch industries supports "the arts, cancer research, and the Smithsonian Institute." They are also very politically active, funding several conservative and libertarian groups, like the Cato institute and Americans for Prosperity (unlike many giant corporations, the Koch's want others to be successful too).

So what is the "hate" the Koch brothers are guilty of?

According to the CAPAF:

"...obstructing and killing progressive reform."
Trying to stop the stimulus package
"...calling for a return to Bush-style tax cuts to combat the recession."
"...helping to organize the very first "tea party" protests."
Campaigning to show that "the scientific consensus that global warming is occurring" is false.
Pointing out that many environmentalist activists (like Algore) are hypocrites when it comes to their lifestyle.
"...fierce opposition to health reform"

It is this last point I found interesting. Patients United is a group run by Americans For Prosperity. The CAPAF piece says that,

"Patients United has blanketed the country with ads distorting various provisions of the health reform legislation, particularly the public option. Patients United even centered a media campaign around Shona Robertson-Holmes, claiming she had a brain tumor the Canadian system refused to treat. However, the Ottawa Citizen reported that Patients United has been exaggerating Holmes' case, and that she in fact had a benign cyst."

Actually, Robertson-Holmes herself says it in the ad. Here is the video:

In the video, she says she had a tumor that would have killed her. The CAPAF story says this is an exaggeration. FactCheck.org looked into the claims, and found (not surprisingly) that the Canadian health officials involved in the case dispute that Robertson-Holmes would have died. A "top neurosurgeon" (without having looked at Robert-Holmes' case) said that her fear of death was "exaggerated." Other officials downplayed the seriousness of her condition. FactCheck.org spoke with "Dr. Jason Huse, a pathologist at the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center." Again, without having actually examined Robertson-Holmes, he claims her condition is "not typically life-threatening."

In response to FactCheck.org's story, Robertson-Holmes sent them a statement:

In 2005 I was losing my eyesight, I was very sick, and there were major changes in my appearance, morphing me into someone that I didn't recognize in the mirror. I didn't know it yet, but I had major endrocrine issues.

I went to my family doctor and got an MRI, which showed I had a tumor. I was put on the waiting lists to see specialists, but they told me the wait was months long.

I went to the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, where I was able to get a diagnosis. The MRI I received at Mayo confirmed a tumor, and again they couldn't tell for sure what kind it was until surgery. The one that seems to be the most consistent in my medical files is a craniiopharyngiomas, a tumor that forms in the Rathke cleft.

For the first time, they found that I also had Cushing's, which is a rare condition. This is why it was imperative for me to have both a neurosurgeon and an endocrinologist. My case was so complex – the tumor was not only compromising my optic chiasm but was also damaging my pituitary gland, and it was uncertain whether I had a pituitary tumor on the gland itself. I was not producing ACTH, which is fatal, and I had gone into adrenal crisis on 4 different occasions.

They also felt that I had an adrenal tumor, but because I had a window of 4 to 6 weeks to save my vision, and to try to reduce the brutally high cortisol levels in my body, we focused on the brain surgery, and I returned to Canada to have the adrenal issues treated here. That surgery was also needed, and it took me three years to get it done. It has just been one nightmare after another.

All experts who have reviewed my case, both before and after, made it very clear that I needed surgery within hours to days. I wish I could release my medical files, but unfortunately I am in litigation trying to recoup my financial loss from the government.

My husband was told in no uncertain terms that if I waited the time scheduled to see specialists back in Canada I would be dead. Mayo recommended surgery immediately, and when we asked the definition of immediately they said they would have me on the table by Monday (this was Friday). I came back to Canada with those reports and I was refused surgery and put back on the wait list. My family doctor applied to the government to cover my return to the U.S., and we were denied and told to wait. That is how I ended up getting treatment in the United States, which was never my intention.

Shona Holmes

According to CAPAF, Holmes didn't even have a tumor. According to CAPAF, it was "hateful"and "distorting" to tell her story.

But who are the truly hateful? According to Holmes, she has received death threats, and gave her dog to her daughter because people threatened to poison it.

Staying with the health care reform debate, who is more hateful, the Koch's or Speaker of the House Pelosi:

Brian Baird a congressman from Washington said, "What we’re seeing right now is close to Brown Shirt tactics."

Then there is the SEIU, whose president visited Obama more than any other person this year - including his own administration officials like Hillary Clinton:

The SEIU will even turn on its own if they don't fall in line. They have been accused of violence at several meetings and protests.

Yet, "right-wing billionaires" are "behind the hate" according to CAPAF, and the "hate" is defined as working to stop Statism from turning our country into a tyranny.

Distortions on the March!

Looking Back

noreply@blogger.com (psychobob) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 06:21:00 +0000

I started this blog on November 27, 2005.
Almost 4 years ago. It is hard to believe it has been that long. There have been so many things that have changed. I graduated. I started working for Dr. House. Karen graduated. Obama and the Democrats took over. And now my dad has cancer.

I realized while I was looking back that I used to write much more personal posts. I wrote about what we were doing and about what I was thinking. I think a lot of that has been shifted to Facebook, but maybe I will start doing that here again.

I still don't know if anyone actually reads this blog, but sometimes it just feels good to type things out.

Well, I suppose I should go to bed.

All the Things Caused by Global Warming:

noreply@blogger.com (psychobob) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:56:00 +0000

I came across this list a while back, but haven't had time to put it up. These are actual news headlines of stories in which global warming was mentioned as the cause or a possible cause:

Acne,

Afghan poppies destroyed,

Africa devastated,

Africa hit hardest,

Africa in conflict,

African aid threatened,

African summer frost,

aggressive weeds,

air pressure changes,

airport malaria,

Alaska reshaped and moves,

allergies increase,

allergy season longer,

Alps melting,

Amazon a desert,

American dream end,

amphibians breeding earlier

amphibians dying,

amphibians not breeding earlier

anaphylactic reactions to bee stings,

ancient forests dramatically changed,

animals head for the hills,

animals shrink,

Antarctic grass flourishes,

Antarctic ice grows,

Antarctic ice shrinks,

Antarctic sea life at risk,

anxiety,

Arctic bogs melt,

Arctic ice free,

Arctic ice melt faster,

Arctic in bloom,

Arctic lakes disappear,

Arctic not warming,

Arctic tundra to burn,

Arctic warming

asthma,

Atlantic less salty,

Atlantic more salty,

atmospheric circulation modified,

atmospheric defiance,

attack of the killer jellyfish,

avalanches increased,

avalanches reduced,

Baghdad snow,

Bahrain under water,

bananas destroyed,

bananas grow,

barbarians,

beer shortage,

beetle infestation,

better beer,

billion dollar research projects,

billion homeless,

billions face risk,

billions of deaths,

bird distributions change,

bird loss accelerating,

bird strikes,

birds confused,

birds decline (Wales),

birds driven north,

birds return early,

Black Hawk down,

blackbirds stop singing,

blackbirds threatened,

blizzards,

blue mussels return,

boredom,

brain eating amoebae,

bridge collapse (Minneapolis),

Britain turned into Siberia,

British gardens change,

brothels struggle,

butterflies move north,

camel deaths,

cancer deaths in England,

cannibalism,

cardiac arrest,

cataracts,

cave paintings threatened,

challenges and opportunities,

childhood insomnia,

Cholera,

circumcision in decline,

cirrus disappearance,

civil unrest,

cloud increase,

cloud stripping,

coast beauty spots lost,

cockroach migration,

cod go south,

coffee threatened,

cold spells,

conferences,

conflict with Russia,

conflict,

consumers foot the bill,

contaminated blood,

coral bleaching,

coral fish suffer,

coral reefs dying,

coral reefs grow,

coral reefs shrink ,

coral reefs twilight,

cost of trillions,

cougar attacks,

crabgrass menace,

cradle of civilisation threatened,

creatures move uphill,

cremation to end,

crime increase,

crocodile sex,

crops devastated,

crumbling roads,

curriculum change,

cyclones (Australia),

damages equivalent to $200 billion,

danger to kid's health,

Darfur,

death rate increase (US),

Dengue hemorrhagic fever,

depression,

dermatitis,

desert advance,

desert retreat,

desert life threatened,

destruction of the environment,

diarrhoea,

disappearance of coastal cities,

disasters,

diseases move north,

Dolomites collapse,

dozen deadly diseases,

drought,

drowning people,

ducks and geese decline,

dust bowl in the corn belt,

earlier pollen season,

early marriages,

early spring,

Earth biodiversity crisis,

Earth dying,

Earth light dimming,

Earth lopsided,

Earth melting,

Earth morbid fever,

Earth past point of no return,

Earth slowing down,

Earth spinning out of control,

Earth spins faster,

Earth to explode,

earth upside down,

Earth wobbling,

earthquakes redux,

earthquakes,

El Niño intensification,

encephalitis,

end of the world as we know it,

English villages lost,

equality threatened,

erosion,

Europe simultaneously baking and freezing,

eutrophication,

evolution accelerating,

expansion of university climate groups,

experts muzzled,

extinctions (bats, pandas, pigmy possums, koalas, turtles, orang-utan, elephants, tigers, gorillas, whales, frogs, penguins,)

extreme changes to California,

fading fall foliage,

fainting,

famine,

farm output boost,

farmers benefit,

farmers go under,

fashion disaster,

fever,

fir cone bonanza,

fish bigger,

fish catches drop,

fish catches rise,

fish deaf,

fish downsize,

fish get lost,

fish stocks at risk,

fish stocks decline,

five million illnesses,

flesh eating disease,

flood of migrants,

flood patterns change,

flood preparation for crisis,

floods of beaches and cities,

floods,

Florida economic decline,

flowers in peril,

food poisoning,

food prices rise,

food prices soar,

food security threat (SA),

football team migration,

footpath erosion,

forest decline,

forest expansion,

frog with extra heads,

frost damage increased,

frostbite,

frosts,

fungi fruitful,

fungi invasion,

Garden of Eden wilts,

gene pools slashed,

genetic diversity decline,

giant oysters invade,

giant pythons invade,

giant squid migrate,

gingerbread houses collapse,

glacial earthquakes,

glacial growth,

glacial retreat,

glacier grows (California),

glacier wrapped,

global cooling,

global dimming,

glowing clouds,

god melts,

golf course to drown,

golf Masters wrecked,

Gore omnipresence,

grandstanding,

grasslands wetter,

Great Barrier Reef 95% dead,

Great Lakes drop,

greening of the North,

Grey whales lose weight,

Gulf Stream failure,

habitat loss,

haggis threatened,

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome,

harmful algae,

harvest increase,

harvest shrinkage,

hay fever epidemic,

hazardous waste sites breached,

health affected,

health of children harmed,

health risks,

heart attacks and strokes (Australia),

heart disease,

heat waves,

hibernation affected,

hibernation ends too late,

hibernation ends too soon,

high court debates,

HIV epidemic,

homeless 50 million,

hornets,

human development faces unprecedented reversal,

human fertility reduced,

human health improvement,

human health risk,

human race oblivion,

hurricane reduction,

hurricanes fewer,

hurricanes,

hydropower problems,

hyperthermia deaths,

ice age,

ice sheet growth,

ice sheet shrinkage,

ice shelf collapse,

icebergs,

illness and death,

inclement weather,

India drowning,

industry threatened,

infectious diseases,

inflation in China,

infrastructure failure (Canada),

insect explosion,

insurance premium rises,

Inuit displacement,

Inuit poisoned,

Inuit suing,

invasion of cats,

invasion of crabgrass,

invasion of herons,

invasion of jellyfish,

invasion of midges,

island disappears,

islands sinking,

itchier poison ivy,

jellyfish explosion,

jet stream drifts north,

jets fall from sky,

Kew Gardens taxed,

kidney stones,

killer cornflakes,

killing us,

kitten boom,

koalas under threat,

krill decline,

lake and stream productivity decline,

lake empties,

lake shrinking and growing,

landslides of ice at 140 mph,

landslides,

lawsuit successful,

lawsuits increase,

lawyers' income increased (surprise surprise!),

lawyers want more,

legionnaires' surge,

lightning related insurance claims,

little response in the atmosphere,

lives saved,

Loch Ness monster dead,

locust plagues suppressed,

lush growth in rain forests,

Lyme disease,

Malaria,

malnutrition,

mammoth dung melt,

mango harvest fails,

Maple production advanced,

Maple syrup shortage,

marine dead zone,

marine diseases,

marine food chain decimated,

Meaching (end of the world),

Mediterranean rises,

megacryometeors,

Melanoma decline,

Melanoma,

melting permafrost,

mental illness (Alberta),

methane burps,

methane emissions from plants,

methane runaway,

microbes to decompose soil carbon more rapidly,

Middle Kingdom convulses,

migration difficult (birds),

migration,

migratory birds huge losses,

minorities hit,

monkeys on the move,

Mont Blanc grows,

monuments imperiled,

moose dying,

more bad air days,

more research needed,

mortality increased,

mortality lower,

mountain (Everest) shrinking,

mountaineers fears,

mountains break up,

mountains green and flowering,

mountains melting,

mountains taller,

mudslides,

Myanmar cyclone,

narwhals at risk,

National security implications,

native wildlife overwhelmed,

natural disasters quadruple,

new islands,

next ice age,

NFL threatened,

Nile delta damaged,

no effect in India,

noctilucent clouds,

Northwest Passage opened,

nuclear plants bloom,

oaks dying,

oaks move north,

oblivion,

ocean acidification faster,

ocean acidification,

ocean deserts expand,

ocean waves speed up,

oceans noisier,

opera house to be destroyed,

outdoor hockey threatened,

oyster diseases,

ozone loss,

ozone repair slowed,

ozone rise,

Pacific dead zone,

penguin chicks frozen,

personal carbon rationing,

pest outbreaks,

pests increase,

phenology shifts,

plankton blooms,

plankton destabilised,

plankton loss,

plant viruses,

plants lose protein,

plants march north,

plants move uphill,

polar bears aggressive,

polar bears cannibalistic,

polar bears deaf,

polar bears drowning,

polar bears starve,

polar tours scrapped,

popcorn rise,

porpoise astray,

profits collapse,

psychiatric illness,

psychosocial disturbances,

puffin decline,

radars taken out,

railroad tracks deformed,

rainfall increase,

rainfall reduction,

rape,

refugees,

reindeer endangered,

reindeer larger,

release of ancient frozen viruses,

resorts disappear,

rice threatened,

rice yields crash,

riches,

rift on Capitol Hill,

rioting and nuclear war,

river flow impacted,

rivers dry up,

rivers raised,

roads wear out,

robins rampant,

rockfalls,

rocky peaks crack apart,

roof of the world a desert,

rooftop bars,

Ross river disease,

ruins ruined,

Russia under pressure,

salinity increase,

salinity reduction,

salmon stronger,

Salmonella,

satellites accelerate,

school closures,

sea level rise faster,

sea level rise,

seals mating more,

severe thunderstorms,

sewer bills rise,

sex change,

sexual promiscuity,

shark attacks,

sharks booming,

sharks moving north,

sheep shrink,

shop closures,

short-nosed dogs endangered,

shrimp sex problems,

shrinking brains,

shrinking ponds,

shrinking shrine,

ski resorts threatened,

skin cancer,

slow death,

smaller brains,

smog,

snowfall heavy,

snowfall increase,

snowfall reduction,

soaring food prices,

societal collapse,

soil change,

songbirds change eating habits,

sour grapes,

space problem,

spectacular orchids,

spiders invade Scotland,

squid aggressive giants,

squid population explosion,

squid tamed,

squirrels reproduce earlier,

stingray invasion,

storms wetter,

stormwater drains stressed,

street crime to increase,

subsidence,

suicide,

swordfish in the Baltic,

Tabasco tragedy,

taxes,

tectonic plate movement,

teenage drinking,

terrorism,

threat to peace,

ticks move northward (Sweden),

tides rise,

tigers eat people,

tomatoes rot,

tornado outbreak,

tourism increase,

trade barriers,

trade winds weakened,

traffic jams,

transportation threatened,

tree beetle attacks,

tree foliage increase (UK),

tree growth increased,

tree growth slowed,

trees could return to Antarctic,

trees in trouble,

trees less colourful,

trees lush,

trees more colourful,

tropics expansion,

tropopause raised,

truffle shortage,

truffles down,

tsunamis,

turtles crash,

turtles lay earlier,

UFO sightings,

UK coastal impact,

UK Katrina,

uprooted - 6 million,

Vampire moths,

Venice flooded,

volcanic eruptions,

walrus displaced,

walrus pups orphaned,

walrus stampede,

war between US and Canada,

war,

wars over water,

wars sparked,

wars threaten billions,

wasps,

water bills double,

water scarcity (20% of increase),

water stress,

water supply unreliability,

weather out of its mind,

weather patterns awry,

weeds,

West Nile fever,

Western aid cancelled out,

whales lose weight,

whales move north,

whales wiped out,

wheat yields crushed in Australia,

white Christmas dream ends.

wildfires,

wind reduced,

wind shift,

wine - England too hot,

wine - harm to Australian industry,

wine - more English,

wine - no more French ,

wine -German boon,

wine industry damage (California),

wine industry disaster (US),

wine passé (Napa),

wine stronger,

winter in Britain dead,

winters in Britain colder,

witchcraft executions,

wolves eat less,

wolves eat more moose,

workers laid off,

World at war,

World bankruptcy,

World in crisis,

World in flames,

World War 4,

Yellow fever,

Thank you to Number Watch for this list.

Yom Kippur

noreply@blogger.com (psychobob) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 04:55:00 +0000

"In mercy and truth

Atonement is provided for iniquity;

And by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil."

Pr 16:6.

"And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath (for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him:

“The Lord has sworn

And will not relent,

‘You are a priest forever

According to the order of Melchizedek’ ” ),

by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.

Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.

Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.

For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this One also have something to offer. For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, “See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.

For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary. For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance; the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience— concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.

But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives. Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.” Then likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.

Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another— He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.

Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:

“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,

But a body You have prepared for Me.

In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin

You had no pleasure.

Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—

In the volume of the book it is written of Me—

To do Your will, O God.’ ”

Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

ut the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before,

“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching."

Heb 7:20-10:25.

noreply@blogger.com (psychobob) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:13:00 +0000

A week or so ago, I contacted my Congressman Kurt Schrader. His office sent me a message back, telling me why he supports HR3200. Below is my response.

Mr. Schrader,

Thank you very, very much for responding to my email. I appreciate you sending me information about HR3200. My own reading of the bill is what prompted me to contact you.

I have very serious concerns about this legislation.
You wrote,

"In HR 3200, healthcare reform revolves around guaranteeing everyone a basic level of healthcare in America. Every new or modified health plan 4 years from now must cover hospitalization, outpatient care, doctors and other health professionals, equipment and supplies needed for physician authorized care, prescription drugs, rehab services, mental health services, preventative services, maternity care and well baby and child care (including dental, vision and hearing up to age 21). A broadly representative Health Benefits Advisory Committee chaired by the Surgeon General will develop the details of the basic services with public input. Everyone and every business must share in the cost of their own healthcare services except the extremely poor, generally those under 133 percent of poverty level (about $14,400 for an individual), or the very small business with a payroll under $500,000 (originally $250,000, amendments proposed have raised the level)."

Since I am a male and will never become pregnant, and my wife is unable to have children, why would our insurance be FORCED to cover "maternity care" and "baby and child care"? Why does my employer as well as our family have to pay for a mandate that WE WILL NEVER USE? Also, why would "every business" be forced to "share in the cost" of health insurance? Why not let the business decide if they want to offer health insurance? Businesses do not "share in the cost" food, clothing, nor shelter with their employees, yet these things are just as important, if not more so than health insurance.

You said,

In addition to Medicare, healthcare delivery in HR 3200 will be through three major options regulated by an overarching Health Exchange to make sure the system is working correctly and everyone is playing by the rules. Private insurance will still provide the bulk of healthcare access in the House Plan. After 10 years the Congressional Budget Office estimates that employer-based coverage does not change very much at 58 percent of health care coverage for Americans. Non-group and other health plans will cover 9 percent. A new "Public Option" will cover 10 percent and Medicaid/Chip 16 percent. Approximately 7 percent will remain uninsured including unauthorized immigrants and those choosing to opt out.

The CBO also estimated that HR3200 would cost $1.04 TRILLION over 10 years. So you are telling me that we are going to spend over a trillion dollars to cover only an additional 8% of America? Also, there is no enforcement mechanism in HR3200 to make sure illegal aliens are not covered by the new "public option." Not that they need it at any rate. The law already forces hospitals to treat anyone who comes in, for almost any reason. Moreover, many in Washington D.C. want to give illegal aliens amnesty, so whether HR3200 covers "illegal aliens" may be moot. In reality, hospitals and clinics are becoming overwhelmed by large number of largely poor illegal immigrants coming to receive free care.

You said:

All employers with a payroll over $500,000 must provide healthcare or pay a graduated payroll tax starting at 2 percent going up to 8 percent for higher payrolls. Very small businesses with 10-25 employees whose average wage is less than $20,000 to $40,000 will be eligible for up to a 50 percent tax credit to help them provide coverage. The employer is responsible for 72 percent of the cost for his employee or 65 percent if also covering the employee's family. The employee contributes the remainder. Employers may opt to get their insurance under the exchange or with another private plan. Private and public plans are allowed under the exchange.

Since health insurance often costs more than 8% of payroll (According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, in 2005 the average percentage of payroll paid in health insurance costs was 11%), why wouldn't they simply drop their coverage and let the government pay for it? HR3200 WILL lead to a single payer system in the end. Please stop lying to us and tell us the truth.

Individuals can get employer-based healthcare through their employer as outlined above or get care on their own including through a public option provider. If an individual does not get health insurance he is penalized 2.5 percent of his adjusted gross income. "Affordability credits" will be given to people on a graduated basis with incomes up to 400 percent of poverty ($88,000 for a family of four), with non-employer based healthcare to help them pay for their share of their health insurance. Out of pocket expenses above the premium are limited to $5000 per individual and $10000 per family adjusted for the consumer-price-index.

So every single American will be forced to buy health insurance, with absolutely no provision to control costs? Since when do we in America punish personal choices in lifestyle? Surely this is not in keeping with the title of HR 3200, part of which includes the word "Choice."

The public option will be offered by 2013. It must compete on a level playing field with private plan choices. It will receive no taxpayer assistance other than a loan for start up costs which it has to repay over 10 years. It will have to negotiate its own rates (not tied to Medicare according to recent amendments), maintain reserves and pay its own administrative costs.

Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare are also suppose to fund themselves. None have ever done so, and in fact, ALL of them are a great burden on our budget. Since there is nothing in HR3200 to control costs, how can you guarantee it will pay for itself? In truth, you cannot.

Childless, able-bodied poor adults (under 133 percent of the poverty level) are added to Medicaid with 10 percent cost sharing with the states (originally 7 percent). Medicaid and Medicare benefits are not reduced. Many efficiencies, productivity improvements and anti-fraud/waste measures are affected in the bill that save billions of dollars and provide better service for the individual, provider and insurer. The "doughnut hole" in Medicare prescription drug coverage is reduced $500 in 2011 and completely phased out by 2023. Asset tests are eased, application and reimbursement improved and physician Medicare payments elevated so that physicians can afford to take on senior Medicare beneficiaries. Training and transparency in nursing home care is made a priority as well.

So benefits are not reduced, payments to doctors are increased, income tests are "eased," and there will be more government oversight, and you are promising to "save billions of dollars?" Are you serious? Government can do many things, and does some things well. Reducing waste and fraud is not one of them. We have been promised for decades that fraud would be investigated and dealt with in Medicaid and it has not happened. Why would we think "this time things will be different"? Until fraud is ended in Congress itself (please start with Charles Rangel and his tax "issues"), Congress will be in no position to enforce "efficiencies, productivity improvements and anti-fraud/waste measures."

HR 3200 recognizes that improving access requires investments in adequate primary and care providers to handle the increased caseload. The House bill encourages graduate medical education, expands loan repayment provisions for the national health service corps, recognizes America's rural needs for healthcare professionals, not all of whom have to be physicians, promotes training in family, general internal and pediatric medicine, geriatrics, dentists, and physician and dental assistants and nurse practitioners. Scholarships and loan repayment programs are expanded for students aspiring to a career in primary care especially in underserved areas.

In fact, HR3200 includes the racist practice of giving preference in "medical education" to minorities, under the euphemism of "underserved areas." Please include incentives for ALL Americans, not just those who have a certain skin color.

Public health, community based health centers and school based health clinics are expanded. Preventative care strategies with evidence based results are to be developed. There will be no co-pay for preventative healthcare and primary care providers will be reimbursed for providing you care and information at 100 percent of the cost. Expanded delivery of public healthcare and preventative care are recognized as ways to curb the long term healthcare cost curve thereby reducing costs to individuals and the system as a whole while providing a healthier life.

These are lofty goals, but how will expanding payments help reduce costs?

Oregon should benefit from the emphasis on quality not quantity of care embedded in the bill. Oregon and some other states have historically been penalized in their reimbursement rates from the federal government for providing high quality, low cost care. Forty years ago the original Medicare system was based on the "fact" that healthcare just costs more in some states. That is simply not true in today's national and global economy. Dartmouth, OHSU and others can document Oregon gets only half the reimbursement of other high cost states that deliver poorer health outcomes at greater expense. An amendment to the base bill provides that over the next three years the federal government transition from a strict fee-for-service payment schedule to one that recognizes good outcomes. Oregon will also benefit from the emphasis on accountable care organizations, medical home delivery systems, pay for performance incentives, evidence based research on best procedures, medications and delivery systems because we are already pioneering in these areas.

I suppose gasoline should cost the same in Hawaii as it does in Oklahoma as well? It is false to claim that healthcare costs the same in all states simply because of the "national and global economy." There are far, far too many variables to make that kind of blanket claim. If the government attempts to centralize health care, it will be a disaster.

About half of the cost of the House healthcare bill comes from efficiencies in our current Medicare and Medicaid system as referenced earlier. The other is from a surcharge on those families earning over $350,000 adjusted gross income ($280,000 for an individual). It is estimated that the surcharge would apply to only the top 1.25 percent of earners today. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has not responded favorably to the House Bill controlling long term costs. However, CBO has concerns that the bill as originally written actually increases long term costs given the improved access and subsidies given to individuals and businesses. CBO does not give credit in its formulas for the potential long term benefits of improved public health, preventative care, and moving to a quality based versus quantity based reimbursement methodology for providers. Nevertheless, the long term cost issues identified need to be addressed before final passage.

I trust the non-partisan CBO much more than Congress. They have no incentive to mislead people in order to garner support and votes. Also, why do we always ask the successful to bear a greater burden of the costs of societal programs? Why not equally share the costs among everyone? Better yet, why don't we ask those who make the most use of the services to ACTUALLY PAY FOR THE SERVICES THEY MAKE USE OF? If I buy a cell phone plan, would I ask people who are rich to pay for it? Why not?

As HR 3200 advances through the legislative process, I will follow it closely and take your concerns into consideration prior to any action.

Please do. I would urge you to vote "no" on this terrible legislation. Please start over, looking for ways to reduce prohibitive regulation to increase choice (not reduce it), frivolous lawsuits, and ending non-emergency medical services for illegal aliens.

Thank you again for contacting me and should you have any further questions or concerns, please contact my office by calling (202) 225-5711 or 1-877-301-KURT. To keep updated on my activities and to contact me through email, please visit my website at: www.schrader.house.gov.

Sincerely,

KURT SCHRADER
Member of Congress

Thank you for keeping me informed. I look forward to you rejecting this legislation and working on reforms that will actually reduce costs, while expanding choice.

Sincerely,

Robert Drouhard,

Salem OR.

Unfortunately when I sent this email, I got the message:
"Google tried to deliver your message, but it was rejected by the recipient domain."

Obama's Speech Last Night

noreply@blogger.com (psychobob) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 23:28:00 +0000

Last night the president put forth what was supposed to be his greatest case for his "plan" for health care reform. The speech was filled with lines tailor made for applause, idealistic rhetoric, and veiled attacks on basically anyone who disagrees with the "plan."

There were many, many lies in the speech. I wish to address two. He said,

"Now, I have no interest in putting insurance companies out of business. They provide a legitimate service, and employ a lot of our friends and neighbors."

This is an outright lie. His desire is to eliminate private health insurance. He is on tape saying so.

In 2003, at an AFL-CIO conference, Obama said,

"I happen to be a proponent of a single payer universal health care program. I see no reason why the United States of America, the wealthiest country in the history of the world, spending 14 percent of its Gross National Product on health care cannot provide basic health insurance to everybody. And that’s what Jim is talking about when he says everybody in, nobody out. A single payer health care plan, a universal health care plan. And that’s what I’d like to see. But as all of you know, we may not get there immediately. Because first we have to take back the White House, we have to take back the Senate, and we have to take back the House."

Was he lying then, or is he lying now? The Whitehouse says the video is "cherry picked" and does not reflect the president's actual views. Where do you think Mr. Obama would be more honest, in front of the entire House and Senate and millions of skeptical citizens, or before a group of his most ardent supporters during a speech where he may or may not have known it would be put on the internet?

Second, last night president Obama said,

"Now, it is -- it's worth noting that a strong majority of Americans still favor a public insurance option of the sort I've proposed tonight. "

No poll I have ever seen has been a majority, let alone a "strong majority." Rasmussen reported that 53% oppose his plan, and only 43% support it. According to opencongress.org (which everyone should use), only 20% of users support HR3200 (which is the only publicly available health care reform "plan").

Throughout the speech he spoke of the perils of "doing nothing," "meeting the challenge," and of "building the future." I thought I would help him out and make a couple posters he can use to spread his message:

Maybe I'm just thinking too much.

noreply@blogger.com (psychobob) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 04:16:00 +0000

OPB told me I "can't not think" though.

"We know what a failure to act would bring: More of the same. More of the same exploding costs. More of the same diminished coverage. If we fail to act, the crisis will grow. More families will go without coverage. More businesses will be forced to drop or water down their plans."

-President Barak Obama

"Democracy is talking itself to death. The people do not know what they want; they do not know what is the best for them. There is too much foolishness, too much lost motion. I have stopped the talk and the nonsense. I am a man of action. Democracy is beautiful in theory; in practice it is a fallacy. You in America will see that some day."

-Bennito Mussolini

"I happen to be a proponent of a single payer universal health care program. I see no reason why the United States of America, the wealthiest country in the history of the world, spending 14 percent of its Gross National Product on health care cannot provide basic health insurance to everybody. And that’s what Jim is talking about when he says everybody in, nobody out. A single payer health care plan, a universal health care plan. And that’s what I’d like to see. But as all of you know, we may not get there immediately. Because first we have to take back the White House, we have to take back the Senate, and we have to take back the House."

Obama

"The importance of the State is rapidly growing. The so-called crisis can only be settled by State action and within the orbit of the State"

-Mussolini

"Here I wish to reaffirm with no weaker energy, the formula I expounded at the scala in Milan: everything in the state, nothing against the State, nothing outside the state.

-Mussolini

“We’ve been debating this stuff for decades. It’s time for us tomove forward.”

-Barak Obama

"It has never been easy, moving this nation forward. There are always those who oppose it, and those who use fear to block change."

Obama

"A nation, as expressed in the State, is a living, ethical entity only in so far as it isprogressive. Inactivity is death. Therefore the State is not only Authority which governs and confers legal form and spiritual value on individual wills, but it is also Power which makes its will felt and respected beyond its own frontiers, thus affording practical proof of the universal character of the decisions necessary to ensure its development. This implies organization and expansion, potential if not actual. Thus the State equates itself to the will of man, whose development cannot he checked by obstacles and which, by achieving self-expression, demonstrates its infinity."

-Mussolini

"In America, we have this strong bias toward individual action. You know, we idolize the John Wayne hero who comes in to correct things with both guns blazing. But individual actions, individual dreams, are not sufficient. We must unite in collective action, build collective institutions and organizations.”

-Obama

"It is thus necessary that the individual should finally come to realize that his own ego is of no importance in comparison with the existence of the nation, that the position of the individual is conditioned solely by the interests of the nation as a whole."

-Adolf Hitler

Conservatives are always labeled as "fascist" and "Nazis" while in fact, Progressives are much closer to fascism than conservatives or libertarians.

But maybe I'm just thinking too much.

Media Misinformation on Health Care

noreply@blogger.com (psychobob) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 04:04:00 +0000

Recently I saw an article in Newsweek by Johnathan Alter that was a snarky hit piece on those who disagree with the Federal Government's plan for heath care.

He said: "Why should I be entitled to the same insurance that members of Congress get? Blue Dogs need a lot of medical attention to treat their blueness. I'm just a regular guy and definitely deserve less." The current health care bill is not the same as the Congress's. Not hardly. In fact, the committee crafting the bill voted against holding themselves under the plan. Congress actually has the choice of several private insurance. See: plans.http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090730/hr3200_blunt_1.pdf "I like the fact that if I lose my job, I won't be able to get any insurance because of my illness." This is false. There is already a government sponsored plan that covers people in this situation. See The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1997. As long as you had health insurance for 62 days prior to changing jobs. "I like the absence of catastrophic insurance today." I have no idea where they got this. Simply search "catastrauphic health insurance." I do know that government regulations make these plans somewhat hard to get. The government does not like insurance companies to offer plans only covering catastrophic health care. And you definitely will not be able to get it once the government undercuts and drives private companies out of the heath insurance business. "The good news is that the $8,000 a year per family that Americans pay for their employer-based health insurance is heading up." It has been documented that the three top reasons that health care costs are going up so fast are: Covering non-emergency health care for illegal aliens, excessive malpractice lawsuit judgments (one of the reasons Europe's health care is cheaper is that there are limits on malpractice lawsuit amounts), and government mandated coverage. If we reformed just one of these, costs would come back down considerably. Some experts say the "health care crisis" could be solved simply by ceasing to cover non-emergency services for illegal aliens. Moreover, almost every objective audit of HR 3200 finds that costs will skyrocket, not go down, if it passes. Conservative estimates range from 1-7 trillion dollars. "And how could the supporters of these reform bills believe in anything as stupid as a "public option"? Do they really believe that the health-insurance cartel deserves a little competition to keep them honest?" The author calls HR 3200 "capitalism." This is anything but. In every single area the government gets involved, the private "competition" goes away, service goes down, and costs go up. Look at the Post Office, or AMTRAK. It's the same when government colludes with private companies to artificially produce a monopoly, like garbage service and cable T.V. The reality is that the government does not play by the same rules as the private sector. In this issue, it is the government that heavily regulates the private insurance sector. It sets up a lack of competition by outlawing insurance companies to operate inter-state. It artificially inflates costs and reduces choice by mandating coverage. For example, here in Oregon I cannot get a plan that does not include prescriptions. I have not had a prescription since I was about 12. I don't need it, but I have to pay for it because the government says I have to have it. Oregon also mandates coverage for: Contraceptives, Alcoholism Treatment, Drug Abuse Treatment, Breast Reconstruction, Cervical cancer/HPV Screening, Mammograms, Mastectomy, Maternity Care and Stay, and PKU/Formula. I don't need any of those, so why do I have to pay for them? Shouldn't I decide if I don't want coverage for something I am never going to use? The author cites the "USPS versus UPS" as evidence of competition between the government and private sector. This is quite humorous given that the USPS has an artificial monopoly on daily letter mail. UPS CANNOT compete in that area of mail service because it is against the law. The USPS is insolvent due to decreasing demand, and their answer is to raise their prices continuously, which they can do because every letter sent "through the mail" goes through them. There is no choice. "You know what part of the status quo I like best? It's a longstanding system for paying doctors called "fee for service." That's where doctors get paid for each procedure they perform..." The alternative is pay-per-patient, where doctors are paid for how many people they see per day (as in HMO's). The service you get from that kind of system is even worse. Obamacare has proposed an even more insidious plan that was abandoned a decade ago: patient pools, where doctors are paid for how many patients they have, no matter how much they see them. Oh yeah, and they are penalized when they refer someone to a specialist. In summary, our healthcare system is the best in the world. It has problems, but there is a reason why people flock here to get medical care, rather than the rest of the world. There is a reason why there are more medical innovations here than anywhere else, including those big bad pharmaseudical companies who have been so terrible as to cure everything from polio to acid reflux. Further, even if we use the dubious number of 47 million who do not have health insurance, that means about 85% of the population is covered, and about 89% of the population is happy with their health care. So why are we going to spend $7,000,000,000,000+ to fix a problem that effects (at the very, very most) 15% of America (BTW, that's almost $150,000 for each of them)? And what's with the headlong rush? Obama wanted this thing passed before anyone could read it in Congress, let alone the American public. That always should make us very nervous. Now that Congress has decided they won't move on it until after the recess, people are becoming increasingly disapproving of HR3200. I think there needs to be reform (see above), but I don't think this is it. Alter employed bumper sticker slogans and short propaganda rallying points, and each one could have been an entire research project. Unfortunately, there are no counter arguments offered in the article. However, there is hope. People are beginning to stand up against this government takeover of another area of our lives.

Vitally Important Federal Legislation

noreply@blogger.com (psychobob) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:22:00 +0000

Friday night, the House of Representatives in Washington D.C. passed HR 2454, the so called "Cap and Trade" bill. It is 1200+ pages long. 3 hours before the vote Henry Waxman added an additional 300 pages to the bill. This bill was said to be so vital that it was not necessary to even read it. Congress was told to simply vote it through.

This ENTIRE section is only for new outdoor lighting regulations and standards. Get ready for Federal control of your outdoor lighting! That's right. Among other gems IN JUST THIS SECTION are:
-Outdoor light bulbs now have a mandated length of life.
-Outdoor light bulbs now have a maximum energy use (read brightness).
-Every outdoor light bulb must have at least two brightness settings.
-Every outdoor light bulb must be manufactured according to the standards of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (a lobbyist group).

By the way, there are sections with similarly long lists of regulations for portable lighting units, "art work light fixtures," "GU-24" light fixtures, and of course normal light bulbs.

(a) Outdoor Lighting-

(1) DEFINITIONS-

(A) Section 340(1) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6311(1)) is amended by striking subparagraph (L) and inserting the following:

‘(L) Outdoor luminaires.

‘(M) Outdoor high light output lamps.

‘(N) Any other type of industrial equipment which the Secretary classifies as covered equipment under section 341(b).’.

(B) Section 340 of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6311) is amended as adding at the end the following:

‘(25) The term ‘luminaire’ means a complete lighting unit consisting of one or more light sources and ballast(s), together with parts designed to distribute the light, to position and protect such lamps, and to connect such light sources to the power supply.

‘(26) The term ‘outdoor luminaire’ means a luminaire that is listed as suitable for wet locations pursuant to Underwriters Laboratories Inc. standard UL 1598 and is labeled as ‘Suitable for Wet Locations’ consistent with section 410.4(A) of the National Electrical Code 2005, or is designed for roadway illumination and meets the requirements of Addendum A for IESNA TM-15-07: Backlight, Uplight, and Glare (BUG) Ratings, except for--

‘(A) luminaires designed for outdoor video display images that cannot be used in general lighting applications;

‘(B) portable luminaires designed for use at construction sites;

‘(C) luminaires designed for continuous immersion in swimming pools and other water features;

‘(D) seasonal luminaires incorporating solely individual lamps rated at 10 watts or less;

‘(E) luminaires designed to be used in emergency conditions that incorporate a means of charging a battery and a device to switch the power supply to emergency lighting loads automatically upon failure of the normal power supply;

‘(F) components used for repair of installed luminaries and that meet the requirements of section 342(h);

‘(G) a luminaire utilizing an electrode-less fluorescent lamp as the light source;

‘(H) decorative gas lighting systems;

‘(I) luminaires designed explicitly for lighting for theatrical purposes, including performance, stage, film production, and video production;

‘(J) luminaires designed as theme elements in theme/amusement parks and that cannot be used in most general lighting applications;

‘(K) luminaires designed explicitly for vehicular roadway tunnels designed to comply with ANSI/IESNA RP-22-05;

‘(L) luminaires designed explicitly for hazardous locations meeting UL Standard 844;

‘(M) searchlights;

‘(N) luminaires that are designed to be recessed into a building, and that cannot be used in most general lighting applications;

‘(O) a luminaire rated only for residential applications utilizing a light source or sources regulated under the amendments made by section 321 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 and with a light output no greater than 2,600 lumens;

‘(P) a residential pole-mounted luminaire that is not rated for commercial use utilizing a light source or sources meeting the efficiency requirements of section 231 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 and mounted on a post or pole not taller than 10.5 feet above ground and with a light output not greater than 2,600 lumens;

‘(Q) a residential fixture with E12 (Candelabra) bases that is rated for not more than 300 watts total; or

‘(R) a residential fixture with medium screw bases that is rated for not more than 145 watts.

‘(27) The term ‘outdoor high light outputlamp’ means a lamp that--

‘(A) has a rated lumen output not less than 2601 lumens;

‘(B) is capable of being operated at a voltage not less than 110 volts and not greater than 300 volts, or driven at a constant current of 6.6 amperes;

‘(C) is not a Parabolic Aluminized Reflector lamp; and

‘(D) is not a J-type double-ended (T-3) halogen quartz lamp, utilizing R-7S bases, that is manufactured before January 1, 2015.

‘(28) The term ‘outdoor lighting control’ means a device incorporated in a luminaire that receives a signal, from either a sensor (such as an occupancy sensor, motion sensor, or daylight sensor) or an input signal (including analog or digital signals communicated through wired or wireless technology), and can adjust the light level according to the signal.’.

(2) STANDARDS- Section 342 of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6313) is amended by adding at the end the following:

‘(g) Outdoor Luminaires-

‘(1) Each outdoor luminaire manufactured on or after January 1, 2011, shall--

‘(A) have an initial luminaire efficacy of at least 50 lumens per watt; and

‘(B) be designed to use a light source with a lumen maintenance, calculated as mean rated lumens divided by initial lumens, of at least 0.6.

‘(2) Each outdoor luminaire manufactured on or after January 1, 2013, shall--

‘(A) have an initial luminaire efficacy of at least 70 lumens per watt; and

‘(B) be designed to use a light source with a lumen maintenance, calculated as mean rated lumens divided by initial lumens, of at least 0.6.

‘(3) Each outdoor luminaire manufactured on or after January 1, 2015, shall--

‘(A) have an initial luminaire efficacy of at least 80 lumens per watt; and

‘(B) be designed to use a light source with a lumen maintenance, calculated as mean rated lumens divided by initial lumens, of at least 0.65.

‘(4) In addition to the requirements of paragraphs (1) through (3), each outdoor luminaire manufactured on or after January 1, 2011, shall have the capability of producing at least two different light levels, including 100 percent and 60 percent of full lamp output as tested with the maximum rated lamp per UL1598 or the manufacturer’s maximum specified for the luminaire under test.

‘(5)(A) Not later than January 1, 2017, the Secretary shall issue a final rule amending the applicable standards established in paragraphs (3) and (4) if technologically feasible and economically justified.

‘(B) A final rule issued under subparagraph (A) shall establish efficiency standards at the maximum level that is technically feasible and economically justified, as provided in subsections (o) and (p) of section 325. The Secretary may also, in such rulemaking, amend or discontinue the product exclusions listed in section 340(26)(A) through (P), or amend the lumen maintenance requirements in paragraph (3) if the Secretary determines that such amendments are consistent with the purposes of this Act.

‘(C) If the Secretary issues a final rule under subparagraph (A) establishing amended standards, the final rule shall provide that the amended standards apply to products manufactured on or after January 1, 2020, or one year after the date on which the final amended standard is published, whichever is later.

‘(h) Outdoor High Light Output Lamps- Each outdoor high light output lamp manufactured on or after January 1, 2012, shall have a lighting efficiency of at least 45 lumens per watt.’.

(3) TEST PROCEDURES- Section 343(a) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6314(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

‘(10) OUTDOOR LIGHTING-

‘(A) With respect to outdoor luminaires and outdoor high light output lamps, the test procedures shall be based upon the test procedures specified in illuminating engineering society procedures LM-79 as of March 1, 2009, and LM-31, and/or other appropriate consensus test procedures developed by the Illuminating Engineering Society or other appropriate consensus standards bodies.

‘(B) If illuminating engineering society procedure LM--79 is amended, the Secretary shall amend the test procedures established in subparagraph (A) as necessary to be consistent with the amended LM-79 test procedure, unless the Secretary determines, by rule, published in the Federal Register and supported by clear and convincing evidence, that to do so would not meet the requirements for test procedures under paragraph (2).

‘(C) The Secretary may revise the test procedures for outdoor luminaires or outdoor high light output lamps by rule consistent with paragraph (2), and may incorporate as appropriate consensus test procedures developed by the Illuminating Engineering Society or other appropriate consensus standards bodies.’.

(4) PREEMPTION- Section 345 of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6316) is amended by adding at the end the following:

‘(i)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), section 327 shall apply to outdoor luminaires to the same extent and in the same manner as the section applies under part B.

‘(2) Any State standard that is adopted on or before January 1, 2015, pursuant to a statutory requirement to adopt efficiency standards for reducing outdoor lighting energy use enacted prior to January 31, 2008, shall not be preempted.’.

(5) ENERGY EFFICIENCY STANDARDS FOR CERTAIN LUMINAIRES- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy shall, in consultation with the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, collect data for United States sales of luminaires described in section 340(26)(H) and (M) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, to determine the historical growth rate. If the Secretary finds that the growth in market share of such luminaires exceeds twice the year to year rate of the average of the previous three years, then the Secretary shall within 12 months initiate a rulemaking to determine if such exclusion should be eliminated, if substitute products exist that perform more efficiently and fulfill the performance functions of these luminaires.

By the way, all these new taxes and regulations are designed to reduce something THAT EVERY ANIMAL ON EARTH EXHALES, CO2.

Alexis de Tocqueville said:
Thus, it [an American tyranny] every day renders the exercise of the free agency of man less useful and less frequent; it circumscribes the will within a narrower range, and gradually robs a man of all the uses of himself...After having thus successively taken each memeber of the community in its powerful grasp, and fasioned him at will, the supreme power then extends its arm over the whole community. It covers the surface of society with a network of small complicated rules, minute and uniform, through which the most original minds and most energetic characters cannot penetrate, to rise above the crowd. The will of man is not shattered, but softened, bent, and guided..." (read more here)

Get ready. The Federal government wants to control every aspect of your life, even down to your outdoor light bulbs.

More Numbers

noreply@blogger.com (psychobob) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:07:00 +0000

I love the facts, what can I say.

In 1980, the Oregon legislature, in the midst of a recession, reduced the budget by 10%. To make it simple, the budget was -10% from the previous.

In 2009, facing a similar recession (arguably worse), the Oregon legislature is proposing a budget increase of 9%. In other words, the budget is going to be +9% from the previous. It is a total of 53.47 billion.

Thanks to Bill Post at 1430 KYKN for this. I have not been able to locate the actual numbers, since Oregon does not post its budgets online.

The next time someone cries that "programs will be cut" keep in mind that the budget is going up 10% over the last one. Nothing is being reduced. I cannot locate it, but I believe the 2006-2008 budget was an increase of much more than 10%. So the 2008-2010 budget is less of an increase. Ah, governmental-ese.

By the way, can we please put the budget online for all citizens to look over? I know it would expose a lot of things a lot of government officials would rather keep secret, but I think the citizens deserve to know what the 70+ new taxes and tax increases proposed will be paying for.

What's going on in Salem

noreply@blogger.com (psychobob) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:14:00 +0000

Taken from resistnet.com, this is a partial list of the things our illustrious state government is proposing to help us out of this recession.

In a word, taxes.

Higher taxes on everything from hospitals to beer (1900% increase) to the rich and to the poor. They are proposing (look for it) an 300% increase in the yearly vehicle registration fee, taxes on the carbon content of fuel providers, and even subverting our state Constitution by allowing local school districts to increase property taxes without a vote of the people.

And these are only what the House is doing. I don't even know about the Senate.

HB 2009 in its current form increases the tax on 25 large hospitals from from .63 percent to 4 percent of net revenue. It sets a new tax on managed care and other health insurance plans at 1.5 percent. (Estimated Impact: $208 million a year)

HB 2067 will sunset tax credits; creating higher taxes for businesses that currently depend on these tax credits. The fiscal impact is unknown and work sessions are currently being held on HB2067 in the House revenue committee. (Estimated Impact: Unknown)

HB2069 reduces the amount of federally deductible medical expense that elderly taxpayers may subtract when determining Oregon taxable income. (Estimated Impact: $15-$20 million)

HB 2072 is a carbon tax; it imposes a tax on each fuel supplier and utility based on the amount of carbon in carbon-based fuel that is sold by fuel suppliers to consumers. Additionally it imposes a carbon tax on energy producers using carbon-generated electricity supplied by utilities to consumers. (Estimated Impact: Unknown)

HB 2075 or HB2122, This session there are several bills that will increase the tax on cigarettes and tobacco products. The cigarette tax would be raised from 29 to 30.5 mills per cigarette. The new tax would be 3.05 cents per cigarette or roughly 60 cents a pack. The tax would be increased from $1.18 to $1.78 cents a pack. The tax on other tobacco products would increase by 25 percent. (Estimated Impact: $112 million for the biennium)

HB 2076 creates higher taxes on healthcare providers (Estimated Impact: Unknown)

HB 2077 reduces federal tax subtractions from $5,500 to $3,000 and from $2,750 to $1,500. LRO estimates this bill will have a first year revenue impact of $121 million. (Estimated Impact: $121 million in first year)

HB2116 Requires insurers to pay a tax as a percent of gross amount of premiums. It is a tax on healthcare insurers. (Estimated Impact: Unknown)

HB 2119 raises the corporate minimum income tax from $10.00 to a sliding scale from $25 up to $5,000. (Estimated Impact: $37 million a year)

HB 2120 would raise the gas tax from 24 cents to 26 cents. It increases the vehicle registration fee from $27 to $81 annually, and creates a first time vehicle title fee of $100. Separate bills in the House would also tax the use of rental cars, and another would raise the tax on air fuel by 2 cents per gallon. (Estimated Impact: $499 million a year)

HB 2461 would increase the tax on a barrel of beer from $2.60 to $49.61. This is a 1,900 percent increase. It is equivalent to $15 cents per 12oz. The industry maintains this will hike the price of a pint of beer by $1.50 and a six pack will cost approximately a buck more. (Estimated Impact: $322 million over the next two years)

HB2649 establishes 7.5 percent Oregon alternative minimum tax for taxpayers with federal adjusted gross income exceeding $125,000. (Estimated Impact: $145 million)

HB 2650 Increases the personal income tax rate for taxpayers with taxable income above certain level. The level has not been specified. (Estimated Impact: Unknown)

HB 2651 would create a 10% tax bracket for individuals with a taxable income of $125,000 and over. (Estimated Impact: $89 million a year)

HB2652 increases personal income tax rate on Oregon families with a taxable income above certain level undetermined. (Estimated Impact: Unknown)

HB 2698 creates new taxes on contributions to employee stock ownership plans exempted from federal taxable income of employees and employers because of federal laws. In other words it creates a new state tax on your retirement plans. (Estimated Impact: Unknown)

The Oregon Legislature will also consider proposals that give local authorities the ability to raise revenue through new taxes and fees. Local governments could have more authority to place taxes on cigarettes (HB2116), impose real estate transfer taxes (SB 396 and HB2473) and would allow certain school districts to increase property taxes (SB555).

Here are some more:

HB 2014: Increases construction tax. Job killer
HB 2068: Increases income tax
HB2070: Increases tax on businesses Job killer
HB 2071: Increases document filling fees
HB 2075: Increases cigarette tax.
HB 2077: Increases income tax
HB 2078: Increases income tax.
HB 2122: Increases tax on tobacco
HB 2159: Increases tax on business
HB 2160: Increases cigarette tax
HB 2379: Creates tax on cigarette distribution
HB 2393: Increase fees for serving legal documents
HB 2431: Increases tax on airplane fuel
HB 2436: Increases fees for deed and mortgage records
HB 2471: Increases tax for seniors
HB 2472: Increase tax on energy bills
HB 2474: Increases property taxes
HB 2616: Increases cigarette tax
HB 2648: Increases federal income tax
HB 2672: Increases tax on tobacco
HB 2696: Tax on bartering exchanges
HB 2697: Increases personal income tax
HB 2711: Tax on civilian federal employees
HB 2712: Increases income tax
HB 2749 :Increases tax on video game devices
HB 2769: Increases tax for farm worker housing
HB 2771: Increasestax for small wineries
HB 2772: Increases tax for seniors this is #3, if you're counting
HB 2773: Increases business tax
HB 2774: Increases income tax
HB 2785: Ceases tax credit for political contributions
HB 2807: Increases tax on businesses
HB 2818: Increases tax on car rentals
HB 2843: Increases tax on income
HB 2844: Creates tax for filing documents
HB 2854: Increases tax on capitol gains
HB 2913 Increases tax on businesses
HB 2934: Creates tax on health insurance
HB 2935: Increases tax on income for shareholders
HB 3049: Increases tax on business
HB 3115: Increases tax on tangible or intangible property
HB 3146: Creates tax on luxury items, ie electronics valued over $1000, sports equip.over$500, real estate other than primary residence, vehicles over $40k, sightseeing flights, submarines.
HB 3148: Increases registration fees for cars.
HB 3272: Increases personal income tax
HB 3291: Increases tax on renewable energy
HB 3303: Creates tax on birdseed.
HB 3309: Increases tax on life insurance
HB 3312: Increases income tax
HB 3398: Creates sales tax ?????
HB 3405: Increases tax on businesses
HB 3406: Increases cigarette tax
HB 3407: Increases tax on alcohol
HB 3411 Tax increase on construction
HB 3412: Increases income tax
HB 3413: Increases tax on businesses
HB 3415: Increases tax on gasoline
HJR 27: Increases income tax
HJR 29: Increases income tax
HJR 48: Increases tax on carbon emissions
HJR 49: Increases tax on oil and natural gas

More Numbers

noreply@blogger.com (psychobob) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 23:19:00 +0000

2008 Population of America: 303, 824,640.
2008 Presidential Election Participation: 131,376,369.
2008 Total People Who Voted For Obama: 69,456,897.

Therefore: 22% of America voted for Obama.
And: 78% of America voted against Obama or didn't bother to vote.

Just sayin's all.

Hypocracy of an American President

noreply@blogger.com (psychobob) — Tue, 19 May 2009 16:29:00 +0000

Apparently you and I aren't going to be allowed to purchase large, safe automobiles.
Obama announced today that the federal government is adopting California's toughest-in-the-nation CAFE standards. An "administration official" said:
"It's important to note that all [car] companies will be required to make more efficient and cleaner cars."
By the way, market analysis has shown that people don't want "more efficient, cleaner cars," especially hybrids. Studies have also shown that raising CAFE standards has not lowered our demand for oil, as the Administration says will be the inevitable result of raising the CAFE standard again. In fact, it may raise demand because it makes vehicle operating costs lower.

This announcement is not really a surprise. Remember what president Obama said in Roseburg, Oregon on May 16, 2008, during the campaign?
"We can't drive our SUVs and eat as much as we want and keep our homes on 72 degrees at all times...That's not leadership. That's not going to happen."

I guess the President isn't going to lead by example:

I have a saying that applies here:
Unreasonable expectations and illogical beliefs always lead to hypocrisy.

Why is it that Statists don't like to submit themselves to the policies they believe are "good for the country" and impose on all of us?
Just remember everything President Obama does is....

Oops.

noreply@blogger.com (psychobob) — Thu, 14 May 2009 02:05:00 +0000

So a while back a CNN reporter, Susan Roegen, revealed the bias of the traditional media by disparaging tea party protesters. This is a video of the second half of the report, followed by what CNN didn't show.

Wow. That lady is just an ignorant "racist" according to Garofalo.

noreply@blogger.com (psychobob) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:58:00 +0000

"Great nations are never impoverished by private, though they sometimes are by public prodigality and misconduct. The whole, or almost the whole public revenue, is in most countries employed in maintaining unproductive hands...Those unproductive hands...may consume so great a share...that all the frugality and good conduct of individuals may not be able to compensate the waste and degradation of produce occasioned by this violent and forced encroachment."
-Adam Smith

Buckle your seatbelt boys and girls - it's going to be a rough ride.

Vegan Front Group

noreply@blogger.com (psychobob) — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 04:54:00 +0000

I heard an odd ad on KEX Radio tonight, so I decided to look into it (what can I say, I'm a research dork).

The group goes by the name, "The Cancer Project."
They say,
"The Cancer Project has two main goals: First, we aim to make cancer prevention a top priority. Just as important, we want to improve survival after cancer has been diagnosed by providing comprehensive information about the role of dietary factors in keeping people healthy."

They even claim to have Anthony Hopkins and Sarah Landon as spokespeople. Sounds good, right?

They go on,
"The Cancer Project provides classes, books, video programs, fact sheets, brochures, and other educational materials on cancer prevention and survival. We also conduct clinical research studies to investigate dietary issues and publicize the need for cancer prevention and the value of healthy diet changes."

They have all kinds of great PSA's about preventing everything from ovarian cancer to obesity in children.

Wow, great group right?

It turns out, the "healthy diet changes" they speak of consists of total veganism. Yup. That's right. No animal products whatsoever. They are actually a front group for militant animal rights activists, giving out "medical" information about the "dangers" of meat and dairy products.

They claim fish oil not only does not help prevent cancer, but poses an "increased risk" factor.
They claim alcohol is so bad that, "even one drink per day increases cancer risk."
They claim "When humans consume meat, dairy products, or fish, they ingest a highly concentrated load of dioxin, which has been linked to several cancers including lymphomas and lung cancer." They do not tell you that dioxin levels have dropped precipitously since the 1970's, and that studies have shown humans must consume large amounts of dioxin (thousands of times more than is legally allowed to be present in FDA inspected meat) for long periods of time before experiencing health effects.

The Cancer Project is an affiliate group of Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM)
According to the Center for Consumer Freedom:
"[The] PCRM is firmly connected with the rabidly anti-medical-research People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which has channeled more than $1.3 million dollars to PCRM since its inception. PCRM president Neal Barnard was, until recently, also the president of the PETA Foundation. PETA runs campaigns to boycott the March of Dimes, the Pediatric AIDS Foundation, and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation because they recognize the value of animal research models in combating diseases. PETA's founding president, Ingrid Newkirk, famously told Vogue magazine: “Even if animal research resulted in a cure for AIDS, we'd be against it.”
Also, according to the CCF,
"PCRM has been linked with FBI-designated terrorist groups, including the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) and Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC). Dr. Jerry Vlasak, the ALF “Press Officer” who is known for openly advocating the use of violence to further animal liberation goals, was a PCRM spokesperson when he first called for the “political assassination” of medical research scientists in 2003. “I don’t think you’d have to kill—assassinate—too many,” Vlasak told activists that year. “I think for 5 lives, 10 lives, 15 human lives, we could save a million, 2 million, 10 million non-human lives.” In 2001, PCRM president Neal Barnard co-signed a series of threatening letters with the U.S. president of SHAC, who was convicted on federal terrorism charges in 2006."
"Dr." Vlasak was quietly dismissed sometime after 2006.

Just goes to show, you can't trust what you see or hear.

noreply@blogger.com (psychobob) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 18:13:00 +0000

Wow. First the CNN "reporter," now this.

Apparently standing up against out of control spending = stupid, mentally ill, volatile, violent, and above all, racist.

Making repeated sophomoric sexual innuendos, misreporting, reinterpreting history, and poo-pooing citizen movements that don't agree with your own agenda = enlightened liberalism.

Political Education

noreply@blogger.com (psychobob) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 02:00:00 +0000

A lot of people think of political ideologies in terms of "left" versus "right," Communism versus Fascism. For decades, it has been taught that Communism is "far left" and Fascism is "far right." Usually the diagram looks like this:

Consequently, "conservatives" are labeled "Fascists" while "liberals" are labeled "Communists." Since Communist Russia was on the side of the Allies, while Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy were the Axis and evil, Communism has been historically seen as positive, while Fascism has been (rightly) seen as evil. Communism was labeled as "Socialist" while Fascism is often associated with Capitalism.

I believe this diagram is constructed with the definition of Communism as "classless, stateless society based on common ownership and control of the means of production and property in general" (Wiki). While this is probably the correct definition of the philosophical teachings of Communism, as practiced, Communism is the exact opposite.
Fascism is usually defined as "a radical, authoritarian, nationalist ideology" that advocates "the creation of a single-party state," that forbids and suppresses "all criticism and opposition to the government and the fascist movement."(Wiki)

I submit that this spectrum is fundamentally wrong. In fact, Communism (as practiced) and Fascism are two sides of the same coin, and that coin is "Stateism."

Stateism is fundamentally opposed to Democracy. It is opposed to individual freedom and individual responsibility. Therefore, I would visualize the spectrum like this:

I could be out to lunch, but that's how I see it.

As for "Capitalism" that is oft maligned, any of these systems could theoretically employ it, depending on who is allowed to control the capital. On the stateism side, the government controls some of the capital (Dem. Socialism), the government controls most of the capital (Socialism), the government only allows those it chooses to have capital (fascism), or the government directly controls the capital (Communism). On the anarchy side, captial is controled by whomever is able to procure it. In Democracy, laws ensure fair tranaction of capital. In full anarchy, capital is procured however individuals decide to procure it.

Right now, the United States is a mixture of all of these. People still have the ability to procure capital, but as you procure more, the government takes a disporportionally larger portion of it, in the form of income, payroll, capital gains, and other taxes and fees. Beginning in the early 1900's and tremendously accelerated during the Great Depression, the Great Society, and other movements, the government has taken over more and more capital (postal service, utilities, passenger rail service, social services, etc.). The government is by far the nation's largest single employer (appx. 22 million people compared to 1.8 employed by WalMart). In fact, government employs more people than any other industry. Recently, we slipped into Fascism by choosing several huge corporations that were "too big to fail" gave them money, and are now beholden to the government.

With so much misinformation about economic and political systems, it seems almost inevitable we will continue the long march to Stateism.

In the 1830's Francis de Toqueville wrote that the totalitarian state would endeavor, "to secure thier [the people's] gratifications, and to watch over their fate. That power is absolute, minute, regular, provident, and mild. It would be like the authority of a parent, if, like that authority, its object was to prepare men for manhood; but it seeks, on the contrary, to keep them in perpetual childhood: it is well content that the people should rejoice, provided they think nothing of rejoicing. For thier happiness such a government willingly labors, but it chooses to be the sole agent and the only arbiter of that happiness; it provieds for their security, forsees and supplies thier necessities, facilitates thier pleasures, manages their principle concerns, directs their industry, regulates the descent of property, and subdivides their inheritances - what remains, but to spare them all the care of thinking and all the trouble of living? ...After having thus successively taken each member of the community in its powerful grasp, and fasioned them at will, the supreme power extends its arm over the whole community. It covers the surface of society with a network of small complicated rules, minute and uniform, through which the most original minds and most energetic characters can not penetrate, to rise above the crowd. The will of man is not shattered, but softened, bent, and guided: men are seldom forced to act, but they are constantly restrained from acting: such a power does not destroy, but it prevents existance; it does not tyrranize, but it compresses, enervates, extinguishes, and stupifies a people, till each nation is reduced to be nothing better than a flock of timid and industrious animals, of which the government is the shepherd." (Democracy in America, 810-811.)

Go Figure

noreply@blogger.com (psychobob) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 00:19:00 +0000

Business Week studied the unhappiest cities in America. According to them,
"The city with the highest overall score in our index was Portland, the beautiful Oregon city that also has very high depression and suicide rates."

Hmm.

Coincidentally, Portland is the second most bike friendly city in the world!

And, according to humanevents.com, the 6th most liberal city in America.

Go figure.

Pirates

noreply@blogger.com (psychobob) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:10:00 +0000

From the New York Times

"Pirates commandeered a United States-flagged container ship with 20 American crew members off the coast of Somalia on Wednesday, in what appeared to be the first time an American-crewed ship was seized by pirates in the area.

The container ship, the Maersk Alabama, was carrying thousands of tons of relief aid to the Kenyan port of Mombasa, the company that owns the ship said."

Our President's response:
"The White House is closely monitoring the apparent hijacking of the U.S.-flagged ship in the Indian Ocean and assessing a course of action to resolve this situation."

Meanwhile, the Americans have apparently taken the ship back. I hope the crew "accidentally" executes all of them, because I fear the new administration will do the same thing they did in reaction to the North Koreans shooting a rocket over Japan:
"..................."

Number of ships hijacked under the 8 years of president Bush = 0
Number of ships hijacked under the first 100 days of president Obama = 1

Number of rockets launched by North Korea under the 8 years of Bush = 1 (it failed)
Number of rockets launched by North Korea under the first 100 days of Obama = 1 (it went over Japan)

Response of Bush to the N. Koreans = strong condemnation and sending anti-missile defenses to Japan.
Response of Obama to N. Koreans = "The world must stand together to prevent the spread of these weapons. Now is the time for a strong international response..."

EDIT.
So the captain sacrificed himself to save the crew. The pirates apparently tried to get away in a little motorboat that has run out of gas or broke down. The FBI has sent "hostage negotiators" to the region, as a U.S. Navy destroyer sits back and watches.

President Obama's Economic Advisor...

noreply@blogger.com (psychobob) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 16:34:00 +0000

He said,
"In the past few years, we've seen too much greed and too little fear; too much spending and not enough saving; too much borrowing and not enough worrying...An abundance of greed and an absence of fear on Wall Street led some to make purchases - not based on the real value of assets, but on the faith that there would be another who would pay more for those assets. At the same time, the government turned a blind eye to these practices and their potential consequences for the economy as a whole. This is how a bubble is born. And in these moments, greed begets greed. The bubble grows. Eventually, however, this process stops - and reverses. Prices fall. People sell. Instead of an expectation of new buyers, there is an expectation of new sellers. Greed gives way to fear. And this fear begets fear, and that is the paradox at the heart of the financial crisis...What we need today is more optimism and more confidence...There are a very large number of things that are on sale today."

This statement has led me to believe THIS is President Obama's economic adviser.

"Surely too early to gauge the broader economic impact of the president's program, it is. Hmmmmmm?"

Amazing

noreply@blogger.com (psychobob) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 20:45:00 +0000

Despite all the rhetoric and blustering by Hollywood and groups like 24 Hours for Darfur, the one country actually doing something about it is one of the most hated countries on the planet:

Notice what they say. Despite the refugees being Muslims, no Muslim country would take them in. In fact, they had to travel through Egypt to get to Israel.

What a Difference 6 Months Makes.

noreply@blogger.com (psychobob) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:04:00 +0000

Sept 2008:
"The truth is, our earmark system in Washington is fraught with abuse. It badly needs reform - which is why I didn't request a single earmark last year, why I've released all my previous requests for the public to see, and why I've pledged to slash earmarks by more than half when I am President...This change will not be easy. It will require reforming our politics by taking power away from the lobbyists who kill good ideas and good plans with secret meetings and campaign checks...But I am ready to reform our politics because I've done it before. I've spent my career taking on lobbyists and their money, and I've won...When I am President, I will start by closing the revolving door in the White House that has allowed people to use their Administration job as a stepping stone to further their lobbying careers...As President, I will make it impossible for Congressmen or lobbyists to slip pork-barrel projects or corporate welfare into laws when no one is looking because when I am president, meetings where laws are written will be more open to the public. No more secrecy...We can't afford four more years of that kind of politics. We need real change. It won't be easy. The kind of change we're looking for never is. What we are up against is a very powerful, entrenched status quo in Washington who will say anything and do anything and fight with everything they've got to keep things just the way are. So if you want the next four years in Washington to look just like the last eight, then I am not your candidate. But if you want real change - if you want to shine a bright light into the backrooms of Washington; if you want to replace the special interests with your interests, if you want a government that costs less and works better for everyday Americans, then I ask you to knock on some doors, and make some calls, and talk to your neighbors, and give me your vote on November 4th. And if you do, I promise you - we will change America together. Thank you."
Senator Barack Obama, September 2008 (washingtonpost.com)

March, 2009:
"I am signing an imperfect omnibus bill (over 9,200 earmarks amounting to an estimated 13 billion dollars) because it is necessary for the ongoing functions of government...But I also view this as a departure point for more far-reaching change. The future demands that we operate in a different way than we have in the past...So let there be no doubt: this piece of legislation must mark an end to the old way of doing business and the beginning of a new era of responsibility and accountability...Done right, earmarks give legislators the opportunity to direct federal money to worthy projects that benefit people in their district, and that's why I have opposed their outright elimination..."

Worthy projects?
$200,000 for Tattoo removal program in Mission Hills, CA
$75,000 for the Wayne Gomes Youth Baseball Diversity Foundation
$300,000 for a World Trade Center in Montana
$6,623,000 for Formosan Subterranean Termite Research
$71,000 for Dance Theater "Etcetera," Brooklyn, NY
$476,000 for the National Council of La Raza ("the Race") in Washington, DC (La Raza is a Mexican supremacist organization that opposes enforcement of immigration law)

President Obama said, "Leadership requires setting an example..." He signed the bill in a private "backroom" of the Whitehouse and refused to answer any questions about why, but promised this bill would be the last one with too much pork...
See his press announcement here.

In other news...
President Obama appoints two more lobbyists to his administration.
Apparently when he said, "taking on lobbyists" he didn't mean opposing them, he meant hiring them.

"Change we need!"

Great Depressions: Are We Headed For Another One?

noreply@blogger.com (psychobob) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 05:59:00 +0000

In 1893 there was a banking crisis. See if the events look familiar.
During the 1880's railroad speculation became rampant. Their values escalated far faster than they should have as people rushed to invest their money in the next "big thing."
"The total construction of new lines during the five years beginning with 1886 and ending with 1890 was over 39,000 miles or an increase of more than 30 per cent., and of this total, 19,044 miles, or almost one half, was built in the states and territories of the Northwest and Southwest." (Lauck, 3)
This led to a vast glut of railroads, flush with capital, but lacking anyone or anything to transport over these tens of thousands of miles of track. By 1893, the once cash flushed railroads were becoming insolvent.
Soon,
"A growing credit shortage created panic, resulting in a depression. Over the course of this depression 15,000 businesses, 600 banks, and 74 railroads failed. There was severe unemployment and wide-scale protesting, which in some cases became very violent. The economic collapse of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroads was the first step toward the Panic of 1893."
"By May 15, stock prices reached an all-time low. Many major firms; such as the Union-Pacific, Northern-Pacific and Santa Fe railroads; were forced to declare bankruptcy. Unemployment steadily grew, rising from 1 million in August 1893 to 2 million by January 1894 By the middle of the year, the figure had reached 3 million.(12-18% unemployment)"
(http://www.historycentral.com/Industrialage/Panic1893.html)

The government largely did nothing, and the depression was over by 1897 - 4 years. That's how long it took the market to recover using the vilified Laissez-faire theory of economics.

Sound familiar? Many economists think we are in a similar situation today. Instead of railroads, this time it was houses. A building rush combined with questionable credit policies led to the "next big" investment scheme to fail. Real estate, like railroads are not a guarenteed investment.

Fast-forward to 1929.
A sell-off in October 1929 on Wall street and a panic run on banks plunge the U.S. into the worst economic crisis since 1893. Between 1930 and 1932 the stock market lost 86% of its value. FDR is elected in 1932 promising to fix the economy. From amatecon.com is a list of all the programs FDR enacted his first year:

March 6th, FDR declares a bank holiday

March 9th, Emergency Banking Relief Act passed, providing for federal bank inspections.

March 20th, FDR signs Economy Act.

March 20th, Credit Act passed, identifying those veterans and dependents of veterans who were

entitled to a pension

March 31st, Reforestation Relief Act passed, creating the Civilian Conservation Corps

April, New York becomes the first to pass a state law regulating minimum producer, wholesale, and retail milk prices (25 other states will take similar action by the end of the 1930s)

April 19th, America goes off the gold standard

May 12th, Agricultural Adjustment Act passed, authorizing paying farmers not to grow crops

May 12th, Federal Emergency Relief Adminstration created

May 12th, Farm Relief Act passed, creating the Farm Credit Administration and the Agricultural Adjustment Adminstiration (The AAA is ruled uncostitutional in 1936).

May 18th, Tennessee Valley Authority created

May 27th, Federal Securities Act passed

June 6th, National Cooperative Employment Service Act passed

June 13th, Home Owners' Loan Act passed

June 16th, Farm Credit Act passed

June 16th, Glass-Steagall Act passed

* Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation established

* Federal Reserve empowered to set maximum allowable interest rates on savings and time deposits

accounts

* Payment of interest on demand deposits (checking accounts) outlawed

* Commercial banks were no longer allowed to engage in investment banking (underwriting securities)

* Federal Open Market Committee established

June 16th, National Industrial Recovery Act passed

June 16th, Emergency Railroad Transportation Act passed

November 8th, Civil Works Administration (CWA ) created by executive order

Despite all these intervening measures, approximately 4,000 banks suspended operations in 1933. 13-14 million Americans are out of work - 25% Unemployment (it had been as low as 2.9% in 1929).

In 1934:

January 30th, Gold Reserve Act passed

o Establishes Exchange Stabilization Fund

o Allows the U. S. Treasury to seize all gold held by Federal Reserve banks

o Private possession of gold made illegal except for "legitimate" purposes (jewelry, artwork, and

industrial and scientific uses)

January 31st, FDR issues an executive decree, changing the price of gold from $20.67 an ounce to $35 an ounce

January 31st, Congress creates Federal Farm Mortgage Corporation.

February 2nd, Export-Import Bank of Washington created, established under DC charter by Executive

Order 6581, to assist in financing U.S. trade with the Soviet Union.

February 23rd, Crop Loan Act passed

February 15th, Civil Works Emergency Relief Act passed.

April 7th, Jones-Connally Farm Relief Act passed, bill effectively placing an expanded roster of farm

products under the control of the Agricultural Adjustment Administration (AAA).

June 6th, Securities Exchange Commission established

June 19th, Federal Communications Commission created

June 19th, Silver Purchase Act passed, empowering FDR to increase the Treasury's silver holdings to 1/3

the value of gold, nationalizing silver stocks and purchases (victory for Free Silverites)

June, Taylor Grazing Act passed (Made it illegal to use "public land" for grazing w/o a permit)

November 6th, Democrats gain 9 seats in the House of Representatives

Anti-Rackateering Act passed

Commodity Credit Corporation created

Federal Farm Bankruptcy Act passed

Federal Surplus Relief Corporation created

National Firearms Act passed (Placed special taxes on the manufacture and sale of firearms by manufacturers and dealers).

Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act passed

Bankhead Cotton Control Act passed (Set quota on how much cotton could be grown)

By now you can see just how far-ranging FDR and the Democrat controlled Congress attempted to reach on the pretext of "fixing" the economy. Federal control was extended to everything from fixing precious metal prices to how much and what types of food American farmers could grow. By the way, the USSR did the exact same thing in the 1920's, and Mao would do 10-15 years later (leading to the starvation of millions). Despite dozens of new government entities designed to "put Americans back to work," unemployment is still at 23%.

In 1935:

April 8th, Emergency Appropriations Relief Act passed, creating the Works Progress Administration

May 27th, Supreme Court unanimously declares Section 3 of the National Recovery Act to be unconstitutional, in Schecter Poultry Corporation v. United States. Section 3 empowered the President to implement industrial codes to regulate weekly employment hours, wages, and minimum ages of employees. (Despite this, FDR continues the program without consequence.)

June, National Youth Adminstration created by executive order

June 3, Farm Credit Act passed

July 5th, National Labor Relations Act (Wagner Act) passed

August 14th, Social Security Act passed

August 23rd, Banking Act passed

August 28th, Public Utility Holding Company Act passed

August 30th, Bituminous Coal Conservation Act passed (Later found partially unconstitutional)

August 30th, Revenue Act (Wealth Tax Act ) passed.

* Increased the surtax rate on individual incomes over $50,000, the estate tax on individual estates

over $40,000 and graduated steeply taxes on individual incomes over $1 million until the rate was

75% in excess of $5 million.

* Decreased the small corporation tax rate to 12% while increasing the corporate tax, on incomes

above $15,000 to 15%.

* Some excess profits over 10% were taxed at a 6% rate and in excess of 15% at a 12% rate.

Notice what happened here - during the one of the worst economic crises in American history, FDR raised taxes on "the weathiest Americans." It was said to be thier duty during the economic crisis. Sound familiar?

August, Neutrality Act passed and signed (Broken by FDR less than 4 years later)

Davis-Bacon Act (artificial inflation above market rate of wages paid to employees of private companies working on government contracts - still in effect today) amended, lowering contract threshold to $2,000

Federal Power Act passed

Motor Carrier Act passed, extending federal regulatory authority to motor carriers engaged in interstate

commerce

Rural Electrification Administration established

Soil Conservation Act passed

In 1936:

January 23rd, Adjusted Compensation Act passes, over Roosevelt's veto. The Act provides for the

immediate payment of veterans' bonuses. (FDR apparently didn't want veterans to get what was promised to them).

February 17th Supreme Court upholds constitutionality of TVA in Ashwander v. Tennessee Valley

Authority

February 29th, Soil Conservation and Allotment Act is passed

May 18th, Supreme Court declares (6 to 3) the Bituminous Coal Conservation Act (1935) to be

unconstitutional in Carter vs. Carter Coal Co. The act had attempted to set produciton quotas, wages,

maximum work hours, and other areas of the coal industry - effectively attempting state takover of the coal industry. The Supreme Court decided it was an unconstitutional infringement on private property and

enterprise.

General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money, by John Maynard Keynes, published (becoming the Bible

of socialist economic theory - argued that it is government's responsibility to create economic demand).

Robinson-Patman Act passed, effectively outlawing price cutting (of commodities) by permitting price

discrimination (charging different prices in different markets) only if it can be justified by differential costs

of serving different markets, or if a price reduction is made "in good faith'' to meet the price reduction of a

competitor. (Effectively outlawing market-based prices).

Rural Electrification Act passed, authorizing loans to qualified borrowers, with preference given to

nonprofit and cooperative associations and public bodies, to construct and operate electric systems

and generating plants

Domestic Allotment Act passed (made farmer relief payments contingent on the farmer agreeing to certian

measures - repealed in 1994.)

November 3rd, FDR defeats Alfred M. Landon, Governor of Kansas, to win second term as President

(electoral count 523 to 8 -the largest landslide in history)

As in the previous year, despite all of the federal employment schemes and even further expanding programs, unemployment in 1936 remains at 17%. Some economists now believe the Great Depression could have been ending by now, had the Federal Government done what it did in 1893.

In 1937:

February 5th, FDR introduces the Judiciary Reorganization Bill (FDR's infamous court packing scheme):

* It proposed to add judges at all levels of the federal courts, assign judges to the more congested

courts and adopt procedures to expedite the appeals process by sending lower court cases on

constitutional matters directly to the Supreme Court

* Justices of the Supreme Court who reached age 70 could retire

* When a Supreme Court justice, age 70, did not retire, FDR could add an additional judge up to 6,

potentially increasing the court to 15 members.

March 1st, Supreme Court Retirement Act passed, permitting Supreme Court Justices to retire at age 70

with full pay, after 10 years of service. (FDR, frustrated by what he saw as the Supreme Court interfering in his recovery plans, attempted to "load the court" with friendly judges.)

March, Commenting on the government's confiscation of all privately owned gold currency, FDR says "Today's [economic]recovery proves how right that policy was."

May, economic recovery stops; economy enters a second depression (2nd worst stock market crash ever begins)

May 24th, Supreme Court declares (5 to 4) that the unemployment compensation provision of the SSA is

constitutional in Steward Machine Co vs Davis

May 24th, Supreme Court declares (7 to 2) that the old age benefits provisions of the SSA are

constitutional in Helvering vs Davis

July 22nd, Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act passed, creating the Farm Security Agency (FSA). The FSA

established camps for migrant farm workers, provided medical care for those workers and their

families, and helped in finding jobs.

September 1st, United States Housing (Wagner-Steagall) Act passed, creating the US Housing Authority

(USHA) to administer low-interest 60-year loans to small communities for slum clearance and

construction projects and to grant subsidies for setting rent geared to low-income levels in areas

where local agencies provided 25% of the federal grant. (Paving the way for inner-city government constructed ghettos)

Unemployment in 1937 remained at 15%. The stock market, having begun to recover from its 1929 crash looses 50% of its value in the next year - the second worst crash ever. Economists of the time coin a new term for this event, calling it a "recession." Unemployment jumps again in 1938 to 19%.

Although FDR and Congress's creation of programs and schemes slows in 1938-41, government continues to exert more and more control over the economy. Unemployment rates do not drop below 10% until 1942.

By 19401, Republican resistance to the New Deal, combined with its abject failure to "fix the economy" had the Republicans (along with many Democrats) poised to seriously challenge FDR. Unfortunately for them, Dec. 7th, 1941 assured FDR would remain in power until his death in 1945 (Americans generally rally around Presidents in times of war). With the nation organized solely on winning the war, unemployment dropped to what economists considered full employment (less than 5%). During World War 2, New Deal programs were drastically cut back and, after the Republican resurgence to power, were not re-expanded until Johnson's "Great Society" programs of the 1960's.

To say historians have generally been very friendly to FDR would be a vast understatement. School children are regularly taught that FDR saved America. PBS said of him,
During twelve years in office, Roosevelt shepherded his nation through the two greatest American crises of the twentieth century -- the Great Depression and World War II -- and left a legacy of political freedom and domestic security to the American people."2
Michael Hirsch, in Newsweek argued,
"In Roosevelt's first 100 days, he not only saved the American economy but probably capitalism itself. How? By restoring it to health with a large dose of socialism. It was a supreme irony, considering how FDR was demonized by the right later on, that the president Republicans angrily called "That Man in the White House"proved to be capitalism's greatest savior."

However, in recent years economists, rather than historians, have begun to question FDR's legacy.

In 2004, two economists at UCLA came to some startling and unpopular conclusions, conclusions that have until now been largely ignored. They said,
"Why the Great Depression lasted so long has always been a great mystery, and because we never really knew the reason, we have always worried whether we would have another 10- to 15-year economic slump," said Ohanian, vice chair of UCLA's Department of Economics. "We found that a relapse isn't likely unless lawmakers gum up a recovery with ill-conceived stimulus policies."

Uh oh. They went on to say,
"President Roosevelt believed that excessive competition was responsible for the Depression by reducing prices and wages, and by extension reducing employment and demand for goods and services," said Cole, also a UCLA professor of economics. "So he came up with a recovery package that would be unimaginable today, allowing businesses in every industry to collude without the threat of antitrust prosecution and workers to demand salaries about 25 percent above where they ought to have been, given market forces. The economy was poised for a beautiful recovery, but that recovery was stalled by these misguided policies."

This is certainly not the propaganda we've been spoon-fed for decades. The article concludes, "Cole and Ohanian calculate that NIRA and its aftermath account for 60 percent of the weak recovery. Without the policies, they contend that the Depression would have ended in 1936 instead of the year when they believe the slump actually ended: 1943...Roosevelt's role in lifting the nation out of the Great Depression has been so revered that Time magazine readers cited it in 1999 when naming him the 20th century's second-most influential figure."This is exciting and valuable research," said Robert E. Lucas Jr., the 1995 Nobel Laureate in economics, and the John Dewey Distinguished Service Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago. "The prevention and cure of depressions is a central mission of macroeconomics, and if we can't understand what happened in the 1930s, how can we be sure it won't happen again?" "The fact that the Depression dragged on for years convinced generations of economists and policy-makers that capitalism could not be trusted to recover from depressions and that significant government intervention was required to achieve good outcomes," Cole said. "Ironically, our work shows that the recovery would have been very rapid had the government not intervened."

See the article here.

Tragically, it seems another Democrat President with the full backing of another Democrat Congress is repeating the very mistakes that led to the 7 year extension of the horrible misery that was the Great Depression. It seems the famous expression needs to be updated: Those who invent history are doomed to repeat real history. Get ready to suffer until possibly 2023 - if another dictatorship of an industrial giant decides to attempt to take over a continent or two. Otherwise, who knows? At least today we have the 22nd Amendment (although there has already been a move to repeal it), so Obama cannot reign for 12 (or more) years like FDR. We are all being called on to "give Obama a chance." If he is simply repeating the failures of the past, indeed taking those failed philosophies to the most extreme limits imagineable, why should we?

1. Time, Dec. 1939. It is interesting to not that the article says Princeton freshmen voted Adolph Hitler the "Greatest Living Person" in a landslide, though they did think FDR was the "Greatest American Living."

2. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/presidents/32_f_roosevelt/f_roosevelt_legacy.html