Robert Reich: The "Paid-What-You're-Worth" Myth

Robert Reich (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In his recent article, The “Paid-What-You’re-Worth” Myth, Robert Reich does a fine job of dissecting the effects of the Government's billion dollar banking subsidy. But while he bemoans the fall of union power he doesn't even touch on how the same corrupting Government policies fatten union leaders' portfolios while forcing union members out of work.

Eminent Domain Abuse in Honolulu

"How people respond to criticism can reveal a lot about their character.  Some might try to debate or reason with those they disagree with.  Others prefer to ignore critics.  City officials in Honolulu take a different approach: They use a bulldozer."

From "Woman Criticizes Honolulu's Government, Has Her Protest Signs Bulldozed" in Forbes.

Sounds like a "Taj Mahal" project, a giant monument to some bureaucrat's vanity.

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Kicking the Backside of the State with an Invisible Foot

http://athousandnations.com/2010/08/31/kicking-the-backside-of...

Mike Gibson at "Let a Thousand Nations Bloom" reintroduces the concept of "The Invisible Foot" and its application to government services.

See this Amp at http://bit.ly/9fth4e

Three Feds are Not Better than One

"[The] Senate ... proposed stripping the Federal Reserve of its supervisory powers and creating instead three new federal agencies to police banks, protect consumers and dismantle failing institutions." - http://bit.ly/3prQuE
So that would be three MORE Federal Agencies plus whats left of the Reserve. That is NOT a solution, that is three NEW problems. Just dismantle the Fed and be done with it! - http://bit.ly/10rVql

Serious Like A Heart Attack II: The Prequel

CNSNews.com - Senate Judiciary Chairman Unable to Say Where Constitution Authorizes Congress to Order Americans to Buy Health Insurance http://bit.ly/3Da6U2

That little gem was posted the day before Rep. Pelosi claimed R. U. Sirius gave Congress the authority for the insurance mandate act. Excuse me? No, I'm pretty sure she said "R. U. Sirius." That just makes more sense.

Leahy, whose committee is responsible for vetting Supreme Court nominees, was asked by CNSNews.com where in the Constitution Congress is specifically granted the authority to require that every American purchase health insurance. Leahy answered by saying that “nobody questions” Congress’ authority for such an action.

That's the same answer I would give if asked "Why is everything so screwed up anyway?" Perhaps a more direct question was called for:

What he should have asked was, “Madam Speaker, do you really think the Supreme Court would let you get away with such a blatantly unconstitutional move?” Had he done that, Pelosi could have said, “What a ridiculous question. They always do!” http://bit.ly/P4sBt

Caring About Health

Image by wstera2 via Flickr

Where the ‘economic argument’ regarding health care reform fails.

Professor Hans-Hermann Hoppe has a great article at Mises Daily: A Four-Step Healthcare Solution. Please give it a read. I am very much in agreement but there is a point I think needs to be addressed in the light of current events.

Points one and two, regarding government licensing and over-regulation of health care providers and the medical industry, are right on the money. Using licensing and regulation to “paper over” the cracks simply doesn’t work. Government intervention does nothing that academic accreditation and consumer watchdog organizations can’t do for themselves.

Point three paints a clear picture of how government interference rewards the irresponsible and breaks the feedback needed to provide quality service. Addressing consumer concerns creates quality service. Defending the irresponsible at the cost of the responsible creates… well you can clearly see what that policy has created.

All of these arguments provide useful talking points on health care reform. But point four has a problem. The unsentimental analysis of the economist simply opens the door to “Death panels will kill my baby” reactions.

Where the logic is true, subsidizing the irresponsible creates a market for irresponsibility, many of the causes for ill-health and infirmity lie far outside the sphere of personal responsibility. Age, for example, or the simple fact that the actions of a few irresponsible people can easily overwhelm the precautions of the responsible.

I personally think the argument for point four is simply the government is incapable of participating in the “care” portion of health care. Any given government policy, no matter how well-intentioned, devolves into a series of detached bureaucratic functionaries matching perfunctory profiles against arcane checklists and stamping “denied” or “approved” in the appropriate box. Those involved with the people themselves become dispensers of '”policy” instead of care.

Private charities can do so much more when people are free to give of their time and resources without interference. People, not “programs” provide real care. That’s what builds community and that’s what creates reform.

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California Election Measures Fail to Address State's Problem

Californians already pay some of the highest taxes in the nation. Imposing ever more taxes--like the $16 billion in additional taxes that Proposition 1A would authorize--to support the state's spending binge won't solve the structural deficit, and will only erode California's already poor business climate...

read more | digg story

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Pimping the Pandemic

Image by Fugue via Flickr

There are a LOT of Spin-Doctors on both (all?) sides of the fence working the "Flying Pig Flu Pandemic" angle to get their pork barrel (ha-ha) projects through congress. Special interests and Big Government and going to be spliced together in strange ways to take advantage of this. Just like the rumors that this outbreak is some "Crypto-fascist Military-Industrial plot."
So, wash your hands and keep your powder dry.