Here's to your favorite politician - ball player- and the guy or gal who is investing your pension money. Hopefully, they understand the principle of risk/reward (R/R) as well as their assumed responsibility to the rest of us.
I truly believe in the risk/rewards - if applied correctly. It's a time worn familiar concept that asks one to employ both affect and cognitive (both their conscience and their brain) as they ask themself : "Is the reward worth the risk?"
We see R/R demonstrated early on by young children. Most kids are pretty good at deciphering the difference between right and wrong behavior. However, some - despite knowing the difference - are willing to take the risk and "test the system". If we fail to teach them there are punishment consequences - we're going to be drinking a lot of wine during our child raising days.
The principle of R/R is as old as dirt and includes various disparate risks - some historical: Charles Carroll of Carollton, confirmed his disrespect for King George, by affixing his signature to "The Declaration of Independence" in bold cursory -address included - then declaring: "They cannot mistake me now!"
R/R has many biblical roots too. To cite just one, in the The Book of Daniel - Chapter 3 - three individuals: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego successfully took on King Nebuchadnezzar's worship practice edict by volunteering to enter his fiery furnace to prove faith in their God. This worked too.
But, what if R/R is apparently not as risky as one might think?
Frequently, we read about various people on Wall Street who pursue and often achieve spectacular monetary gains (reward) despite the inherent possibility (risk) that they and their families may face temporary major disgrace and - huge fines.
Apparently, what they don't fear, is going to jail - a powerful deterrent to most of us as we weigh the pros and cons of our actions (pun intended).
Two recent examples.The hedge fund SAC Capital Advisers, founded and managed by Richard Cohen - one of the wealthiest people in our country -was recently indicted by the SEC for insider trading in a huge case.
Cohen, the guy in charge, was indicted for "administrative charges" (translation: loose supervision), but the "civil" action did not accuse him of "insider trading". No jail time.
If Cohen was knowledgable of the insider trading activity - as is widely suspected due to his position in the firm as well as the industry - but is not indicted on insider-trading charges - could you reasonably conclude this might well be a classic example of successful "risk-reward" activity?
The above is not unusual in how the SEC is dealing with so-called "white collar crime." They recently successfully took on a low level executive at Goldman Sachs and he was found liable for fraud after a two week trial in Manhattan. That's the good news.
The bad news? The SEC negotiated a $550 million civil settlement with Goldman Sachs but did not charge senior executives with anything.
Some in the industry claim, "It was an implicit bargain between banks and regulators in which the SEC did not charge senior executives of banks, such as Goldman, if the company was willing to pay a large settlement to help recoup investors losses."
One law professor said, "They gave up the office boy instead." A spokesman for a non-profit that advocates for financial reform stated, "They're laughing in the executive suites of Wall Street."
So, why did nobody go to jail - the assumed risk part of R/R?
A Columbia Law School professor may have the answer: "They (the SEC) never would have gotten the $550 million if they had gone after senior executives."
The reasoning is that the senior executives would have had the SEC tied up in court for months or years and one assumes their employer would have paid their legal bills.
In a recent blog I reported the SEC plans to get tougher on financial fraud. That's tough? What do you have to do wrong in that business in order to get jail time?
The moral? Kids - just like grown ups - will do the damnedest things if they know the consequences of their actions will receive little or no punishment. Just pray those kids don't end up on Wall Street.
But, then again, maybe by then the SEC will finally get it together.
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Sunday, July 21, 2013
The Tortoise
I am blessed with great kids - but don't acknowledge it often enough.
This truism occurred to this old tortoise just the other day as I reopened a shoe box filled with my electronic toys, courtesy of family.
As is my habit, I looked at the objects for a while hoping one would inform me how to turn it on - before taking some pee-pee steps from my Mother May I days. Then, I slowly entered the "age of the new electronics".
That age is not to be confused with my 20th century prior mastery of: Reel to Reel recorders/players, Cassette players, Polaroid and Brownie cameras, record players, RCA plugs, Manaural and Stereo Receivers as large as your normal imported compact car and Advent speakers best placed on something substantial like the concrete garage floor.
It seems I work better with large objects like a refrigerator or freezer from whence I remove objects that contribute to making ME bigger too.
Unfortunately, I do not have the same success with any miniature electronic device that is preceded by the lower case letter "i" - like the ipod my kids "presented' me with some time ago.
Actually it's an "ipod nano" apparently named after someones mechanically gifted grandparent. I slowly removed it and a set of Bose ear phones that fit inside the ear and were a gift from my wife.
My son Bruce had previously downloaded about 75 songs of various tastes for me. To my latent amazement, when I figured out how to charge this tiny ipod - and determine which ear each of the minature earphones were designed to fit, I had my socks "blown off'.
No, I didn't electrocute myself. I was referring to my amazement at the incredible music I was introduced to as Bella and I waited in the car for "BW' Phyl to come out of the eye doctors office.
I heard Tchaikovsky that sounded like a live Heinz Hall performance by the Pittsburgh Symphony. One movement of Dvorak's New World Symphony was every bit as impressive as that heard at a Philadelphia Orchestra park concert 20 years ago.
My jazz never sounded better. One cut was as crystal clear as that provided by the incredible acoustics of the intimate Snug Harbor in New Orleans when listening to one of our favorite jazz pianists, Ellis Marsalis.
Heck, even Englebert sounded good in the car.
I'm presently overloaded by "only" 678.8 MB due to some overzealous importing of my favorites yesterday.
So once more; "The tortoise is saying THANKS TO ALL - particularly my kids who have one heckuva lot of patience with me.
Oops, here comes Edvard Grieg's "In The Hall of The Mountain King" from Peer Gynt. I have to stand up to direct this one. .
Run, "Tortoise Man"!
This truism occurred to this old tortoise just the other day as I reopened a shoe box filled with my electronic toys, courtesy of family.
As is my habit, I looked at the objects for a while hoping one would inform me how to turn it on - before taking some pee-pee steps from my Mother May I days. Then, I slowly entered the "age of the new electronics".
That age is not to be confused with my 20th century prior mastery of: Reel to Reel recorders/players, Cassette players, Polaroid and Brownie cameras, record players, RCA plugs, Manaural and Stereo Receivers as large as your normal imported compact car and Advent speakers best placed on something substantial like the concrete garage floor.
It seems I work better with large objects like a refrigerator or freezer from whence I remove objects that contribute to making ME bigger too.
Unfortunately, I do not have the same success with any miniature electronic device that is preceded by the lower case letter "i" - like the ipod my kids "presented' me with some time ago.
Actually it's an "ipod nano" apparently named after someones mechanically gifted grandparent. I slowly removed it and a set of Bose ear phones that fit inside the ear and were a gift from my wife.
My son Bruce had previously downloaded about 75 songs of various tastes for me. To my latent amazement, when I figured out how to charge this tiny ipod - and determine which ear each of the minature earphones were designed to fit, I had my socks "blown off'.
No, I didn't electrocute myself. I was referring to my amazement at the incredible music I was introduced to as Bella and I waited in the car for "BW' Phyl to come out of the eye doctors office.
I heard Tchaikovsky that sounded like a live Heinz Hall performance by the Pittsburgh Symphony. One movement of Dvorak's New World Symphony was every bit as impressive as that heard at a Philadelphia Orchestra park concert 20 years ago.
My jazz never sounded better. One cut was as crystal clear as that provided by the incredible acoustics of the intimate Snug Harbor in New Orleans when listening to one of our favorite jazz pianists, Ellis Marsalis.
Heck, even Englebert sounded good in the car.
I'm presently overloaded by "only" 678.8 MB due to some overzealous importing of my favorites yesterday.
So once more; "The tortoise is saying THANKS TO ALL - particularly my kids who have one heckuva lot of patience with me.
Oops, here comes Edvard Grieg's "In The Hall of The Mountain King" from Peer Gynt. I have to stand up to direct this one. .
Run, "Tortoise Man"!
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
THE EVERCHANGING EXERCISE HANDBOOK
So, like me, you pass left to right in front of your two door wide bedroom closet mirror and you wonder what the name of the tyke was you saw briefly moving directly in front of you.
Relax, it was only your extended abdomen protecting those 20 plus pounds or so you packed on as you got older.
Not to worry. You will exercise and go on a diet just like you did in the past. Heck, in three weeks to a month, the added weight will all evaporate just like it did when you were twenty years younger.
To prove your sincerity you immediately buy some exercise manuals to remind yourself how to repeat those successful techniques of the past.
Yep, that's when the fun really starts.
Remember how - when you didn't really want to reduce the still skinny parts of your body - just those areas containing all of your excess fat - you targeted the specific areas of need for big time exercise? Fugeddaboutit!
Despite the teachings of the past stating: "Doing crunches will get rid of belly fat"- targeting a specific area - called spot training - just doesn't work. When you exercise you're burning up whatever glucose and fat that's supplied by the bloodstream - not the fat that's right there on your body. Instead, eat smart and exercise consistently.
Here are some more of the myths from our past:
"Stretching becomes more important as you age.". Nope! Current research shows stretching does little to prevent injuries and may even do harm. Stretching a muscle for 60 seconds or more causes a decline in performance; a stretched muscle when released contracts and tightens - the opposite of what you want it to do.
"The best way to burn fat is to work out longer." Doesn't work! A new study finds it's the intensity of the exercise that has the most impact - running 5 miles does more than walking 5 miles because high intensity exercise boosts your metabolism.
"Cardio matters more than weight training after 50" Sorry, Pal! Weight training is just as important as cardio - if not more so - as you age. While a loss of strength might not be noticeable at 50, by 60 it will start to affect your ability to exercise at all.
"You shouldn't exercise if you're sick". Whoops again! When it comes to exercise and illness, your neck is the dividing line. Translation: If your symptoms are at or above the neck - sore throat, congestion, watery eyes - a workout is fine (except if you have a fever. Then take a few days off.) if your symptoms are below the neck - chest congestion - hacking cough - stomach flu - it's better to rest for a few days.
"You burn the most fat when working out hungry" Sorry, Dude! Actually exercise does not tap it's stores of fat for energy. The bod burns the same amount of fat whether the stomach is full or empty. Exercising w/o eating is not good. A small snack can help fuel muscles.
So you're really confused now - right? Why don't you pause to digest all of this new information by grabbing a large bag of Fritos and some Helluva Good onion dip and escape to the peace and quiet of your recliner. It's been proven that repetetive hand and arm movement plus rapid mastication is good exercise.
Me? I'm just hanging around until they prove that you can lose weight and gain muscle via copious dosages of hot fudge sundaes.
But - by all means - in the meantime -stay the hell off the path you've worn in front of that !@#$ mirror.
(source: AARP - The Magazine - June/July 2013 - p.22)
Relax, it was only your extended abdomen protecting those 20 plus pounds or so you packed on as you got older.
Not to worry. You will exercise and go on a diet just like you did in the past. Heck, in three weeks to a month, the added weight will all evaporate just like it did when you were twenty years younger.
To prove your sincerity you immediately buy some exercise manuals to remind yourself how to repeat those successful techniques of the past.
Yep, that's when the fun really starts.
Remember how - when you didn't really want to reduce the still skinny parts of your body - just those areas containing all of your excess fat - you targeted the specific areas of need for big time exercise? Fugeddaboutit!
Despite the teachings of the past stating: "Doing crunches will get rid of belly fat"- targeting a specific area - called spot training - just doesn't work. When you exercise you're burning up whatever glucose and fat that's supplied by the bloodstream - not the fat that's right there on your body. Instead, eat smart and exercise consistently.
Here are some more of the myths from our past:
"Stretching becomes more important as you age.". Nope! Current research shows stretching does little to prevent injuries and may even do harm. Stretching a muscle for 60 seconds or more causes a decline in performance; a stretched muscle when released contracts and tightens - the opposite of what you want it to do.
"The best way to burn fat is to work out longer." Doesn't work! A new study finds it's the intensity of the exercise that has the most impact - running 5 miles does more than walking 5 miles because high intensity exercise boosts your metabolism.
"Cardio matters more than weight training after 50" Sorry, Pal! Weight training is just as important as cardio - if not more so - as you age. While a loss of strength might not be noticeable at 50, by 60 it will start to affect your ability to exercise at all.
"You shouldn't exercise if you're sick". Whoops again! When it comes to exercise and illness, your neck is the dividing line. Translation: If your symptoms are at or above the neck - sore throat, congestion, watery eyes - a workout is fine (except if you have a fever. Then take a few days off.) if your symptoms are below the neck - chest congestion - hacking cough - stomach flu - it's better to rest for a few days.
"You burn the most fat when working out hungry" Sorry, Dude! Actually exercise does not tap it's stores of fat for energy. The bod burns the same amount of fat whether the stomach is full or empty. Exercising w/o eating is not good. A small snack can help fuel muscles.
So you're really confused now - right? Why don't you pause to digest all of this new information by grabbing a large bag of Fritos and some Helluva Good onion dip and escape to the peace and quiet of your recliner. It's been proven that repetetive hand and arm movement plus rapid mastication is good exercise.
Me? I'm just hanging around until they prove that you can lose weight and gain muscle via copious dosages of hot fudge sundaes.
But - by all means - in the meantime -stay the hell off the path you've worn in front of that !@#$ mirror.
(source: AARP - The Magazine - June/July 2013 - p.22)
Monday, July 15, 2013
SO WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTINUING RACISM?
Is there anything that either the White House or the media will not do to keep the racism carrot ahead of the cart?
One sigh of relief from so many of us Americans is the fact that we no longer have to rely on the jury system to determine whether a suspect was guilty of a crime based on the allegation of racism as their motivation to commit it.
Apparently, regardless of the deliberation by the six member jury and their eventual decision to find George Zimmerman "not guilty" - the Justice Department is still not convinced - nor concerned about their growing reputation as "the hand servant of the King".
Not only did the jury find the defendant "not guilty" of second degree murder, they opted not to convict him of the lesser - but still punitive charge of Manslaughter - punishable by 10 to 30 years in prison.
"Not to worry" ye strident minorities who were disappointed by the verdict but will continue to vote Democrat; Attorney General Eric Holder is coming to your rescue.
As if the Justice Depaertment and Holder do not have enough to do to convince the voting public that they are not biased toward anything that does not favor the President and the Democrat party - they have now decided to investigate further to determine if George Zimmerman may be guilty of a civil violation.This was just announced by Holder to the largest black sorority in our country.
And not-withstanding that the prior decision to obtain civil relief in the OJ case was prompted by the family of the victim - not the government - and the conclusion of our FBI - after a thorough investigation- that the matter in question was not prompted by racism - the "Injustice" Department carries on their misguided vigil.
In view of the criticism this governmental department has undegone in the last year or so, we should be encouraged by the fact that somebody in Washington possesses the biggest brass balls of all time. You are free to figure who this might be on your own. I'm still struggling to be neutral.
"Justice" (?) made their determination to pursue this on the heels of a Presidential message to the nation following the verdict that ever so subtly supports the dis belief of these potential racists who are convinced the 6 women (5 white and 1 Hispanic) were hellbent on freeing this non-black defendant.
That would be despite photos of the deceased in a position on top of the defendant - and eye witness testimony confirming his allegations that the death of Travon Martin was prompted by the excessive force the deceased had brought to bear on the defendant and the first interview with a clearly non-biased juror.
It would also be despite the further supported argument made by the defendant via the photos of his visible injuries about his face and upper body that they were allegedly caused by the actions of the deceased.
Despite all of this, we have the reassurance from the Justice Department that their oncoming probe was neither approved nor directed by our President.
As a result we are left to repeat our conclusion that despite the most convincing example in a while of the fairness of the jury system their verdict cannot be viewed by us as the final decision. It is whether or not the Justice Departmen is satisfied with a legal decision that is being protested by their largest voting block - African Americans.
For some time I have railed against what I saw as a tremendously pathetic political party - the Republicans - who without exception accused any action or suspected non-action by the Democrats as being politically motivated. I did so as a registered voter of that party - and sometimes conflicted supporter (within reason) for over 50 years.
Given this follow- up decision to the Martin-Zimmerman verdict by Holder and the Justice Department - not to be confused with the musical group from your past - "Paul Revere and The Raiders" - it is clear to this humble guy, who constantly looks for balance in anything political - that we are moving to the wrong end of the continuom of the concerns our forefathers had in mind about the possible abuse of power by the government they had established.
Who promotes racism? Not Paula Deen. It is promoted by various other entities simply because of their realization that to do so it sells newspapers - periodicals- TV shows - could affect corporate profits - and may help impact the mid-term elections.
Folks, ask yourself: is there anything presently we won't do in this country in the voracious pursuit of money and power?
My advice: Stay home. Don't waste your time Diogenes!
One sigh of relief from so many of us Americans is the fact that we no longer have to rely on the jury system to determine whether a suspect was guilty of a crime based on the allegation of racism as their motivation to commit it.
Apparently, regardless of the deliberation by the six member jury and their eventual decision to find George Zimmerman "not guilty" - the Justice Department is still not convinced - nor concerned about their growing reputation as "the hand servant of the King".
Not only did the jury find the defendant "not guilty" of second degree murder, they opted not to convict him of the lesser - but still punitive charge of Manslaughter - punishable by 10 to 30 years in prison.
"Not to worry" ye strident minorities who were disappointed by the verdict but will continue to vote Democrat; Attorney General Eric Holder is coming to your rescue.
As if the Justice Depaertment and Holder do not have enough to do to convince the voting public that they are not biased toward anything that does not favor the President and the Democrat party - they have now decided to investigate further to determine if George Zimmerman may be guilty of a civil violation.This was just announced by Holder to the largest black sorority in our country.
And not-withstanding that the prior decision to obtain civil relief in the OJ case was prompted by the family of the victim - not the government - and the conclusion of our FBI - after a thorough investigation- that the matter in question was not prompted by racism - the "Injustice" Department carries on their misguided vigil.
In view of the criticism this governmental department has undegone in the last year or so, we should be encouraged by the fact that somebody in Washington possesses the biggest brass balls of all time. You are free to figure who this might be on your own. I'm still struggling to be neutral.
"Justice" (?) made their determination to pursue this on the heels of a Presidential message to the nation following the verdict that ever so subtly supports the dis belief of these potential racists who are convinced the 6 women (5 white and 1 Hispanic) were hellbent on freeing this non-black defendant.
That would be despite photos of the deceased in a position on top of the defendant - and eye witness testimony confirming his allegations that the death of Travon Martin was prompted by the excessive force the deceased had brought to bear on the defendant and the first interview with a clearly non-biased juror.
It would also be despite the further supported argument made by the defendant via the photos of his visible injuries about his face and upper body that they were allegedly caused by the actions of the deceased.
Despite all of this, we have the reassurance from the Justice Department that their oncoming probe was neither approved nor directed by our President.
As a result we are left to repeat our conclusion that despite the most convincing example in a while of the fairness of the jury system their verdict cannot be viewed by us as the final decision. It is whether or not the Justice Departmen is satisfied with a legal decision that is being protested by their largest voting block - African Americans.
For some time I have railed against what I saw as a tremendously pathetic political party - the Republicans - who without exception accused any action or suspected non-action by the Democrats as being politically motivated. I did so as a registered voter of that party - and sometimes conflicted supporter (within reason) for over 50 years.
Given this follow- up decision to the Martin-Zimmerman verdict by Holder and the Justice Department - not to be confused with the musical group from your past - "Paul Revere and The Raiders" - it is clear to this humble guy, who constantly looks for balance in anything political - that we are moving to the wrong end of the continuom of the concerns our forefathers had in mind about the possible abuse of power by the government they had established.
Who promotes racism? Not Paula Deen. It is promoted by various other entities simply because of their realization that to do so it sells newspapers - periodicals- TV shows - could affect corporate profits - and may help impact the mid-term elections.
Folks, ask yourself: is there anything presently we won't do in this country in the voracious pursuit of money and power?
My advice: Stay home. Don't waste your time Diogenes!
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
JUST DIS N DAT
While wondering whether the Pirates are on the verge of another collapse losing three series in a row and 6 of 8 games - after a 9 game winning streak - I may have come up with a valid reason.
Because USA Today seldom has the previous nights baseball scores in the edition I receive, they continue to hone what I feel would be a perfect new motto: for the paper "Yesterdays Sports Results Tomorrow".
So, returning from an early doctor's appointment I immediately went on-line to view the Post-Gazette sports section.
That's when I discovered the "flaw in their flue" - to paraphrase a very - very old Frank Sinatra song.
PG sports writer Bill Brink described the effectiveness of the Oakland starting pitcher thusly, " When Oakland starter Dan Straily wasn't striking out Pirates (7), he was keeping their balls on the ground."
C'mon gang! And this was a home game?
Obviously, tighter officiating may be a much needed cure to halt the Pirates current losing ways.
--------------------------------------------
I'm still reeling from the latest bulletin someone sent me by someone who is obviously concerned about the ever increasing PC life we're being asked to live:
"Due to the climate of political correctness now pervading America, people who live in or are from northeast Alabama, north Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia will no longer be referred to as 'Hillbillies'. You must now refer to them as "Appalachian Americans."
Oh yeah, I know you'll be hearing a lot of that from loyal Panther fans at the next Pitt-West Virginia "backyard brawl" football game: "Go Pitt. Beat those A.H.'s"!
(You see, most Pittsburghers can't spell any better than this old blogger).
Because USA Today seldom has the previous nights baseball scores in the edition I receive, they continue to hone what I feel would be a perfect new motto: for the paper "Yesterdays Sports Results Tomorrow".
So, returning from an early doctor's appointment I immediately went on-line to view the Post-Gazette sports section.
That's when I discovered the "flaw in their flue" - to paraphrase a very - very old Frank Sinatra song.
PG sports writer Bill Brink described the effectiveness of the Oakland starting pitcher thusly, " When Oakland starter Dan Straily wasn't striking out Pirates (7), he was keeping their balls on the ground."
C'mon gang! And this was a home game?
Obviously, tighter officiating may be a much needed cure to halt the Pirates current losing ways.
--------------------------------------------
I'm still reeling from the latest bulletin someone sent me by someone who is obviously concerned about the ever increasing PC life we're being asked to live:
"Due to the climate of political correctness now pervading America, people who live in or are from northeast Alabama, north Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia will no longer be referred to as 'Hillbillies'. You must now refer to them as "Appalachian Americans."
Oh yeah, I know you'll be hearing a lot of that from loyal Panther fans at the next Pitt-West Virginia "backyard brawl" football game: "Go Pitt. Beat those A.H.'s"!
(You see, most Pittsburghers can't spell any better than this old blogger).
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
MEDICARE AND MONEY
Like everyone else, the high expense of health care really bothers me.
Can our little family afford it. Yeah, for now - but what about in the future? Here's why we're worried:
Our system of health care in this country is reported to be the most expensive in the world: about $8,200 per person spent on health care annually.
So how do we compare with other countries? Canada - $4,400. France - $4,000.
Average hospital stay in the USA - costs about $18,000.
In Canada, the Netherlands, and Japan - $4,000 to $6,000 less.
Outcome in the US? Mediocre at best. As many as 100,000 die from medical errors annually. According to World Health Organization - U.S. system ranks 37th out of 191 countries - well below France (1st place) and just above Slovenia and Cuba.
Despite the high cost of medical care in this country, Medicare is still not allowed to negotiate lower drug prices like private carriers. Why are we wasting the bargaining power of 49 million Medicare beneficiaries?
Why are our drug companies allowed to negotiate with the makers of generics to delay the introduction of lower priced drugs? *Why are drug stores allowed to recommend generics strictly because the drug store chains make much more money filling prescriptions with generic drugs - which are not held to the same rigorous testing of brand names?
Answer: A possible 435 reasons. It's called "Congress".
Why do we continue to allow Congress to favor drug companies simply out of a loyalty to the campaign contribution mess? Should 435 people be allowed to make us pay for a health system that squanders as much as $750 billion on "unnecessary services, excessive administrative costs, fraud and various other problems" simply because they lack the guts to act on our behalf?
Some studies conclude that Medicare spending would decline by almost 30% if wasteful costs could be eliminated. Here's a thought.
As a kid did you ever attend a school with mandatory uniforms?
Why not insist that for Congress members as well? On each uniform they would be required to wear patches - like race car drivers - golfers, etc of all the companies who are buying their vote and cancelling your own?
*Supreme Court by 5 to 3 ruled deals between brand name and generic companies can be challenged as anti-competetive. We'll see.
Can our little family afford it. Yeah, for now - but what about in the future? Here's why we're worried:
Our system of health care in this country is reported to be the most expensive in the world: about $8,200 per person spent on health care annually.
So how do we compare with other countries? Canada - $4,400. France - $4,000.
Average hospital stay in the USA - costs about $18,000.
In Canada, the Netherlands, and Japan - $4,000 to $6,000 less.
Outcome in the US? Mediocre at best. As many as 100,000 die from medical errors annually. According to World Health Organization - U.S. system ranks 37th out of 191 countries - well below France (1st place) and just above Slovenia and Cuba.
Despite the high cost of medical care in this country, Medicare is still not allowed to negotiate lower drug prices like private carriers. Why are we wasting the bargaining power of 49 million Medicare beneficiaries?
Why are our drug companies allowed to negotiate with the makers of generics to delay the introduction of lower priced drugs? *Why are drug stores allowed to recommend generics strictly because the drug store chains make much more money filling prescriptions with generic drugs - which are not held to the same rigorous testing of brand names?
Answer: A possible 435 reasons. It's called "Congress".
Why do we continue to allow Congress to favor drug companies simply out of a loyalty to the campaign contribution mess? Should 435 people be allowed to make us pay for a health system that squanders as much as $750 billion on "unnecessary services, excessive administrative costs, fraud and various other problems" simply because they lack the guts to act on our behalf?
Some studies conclude that Medicare spending would decline by almost 30% if wasteful costs could be eliminated. Here's a thought.
As a kid did you ever attend a school with mandatory uniforms?
Why not insist that for Congress members as well? On each uniform they would be required to wear patches - like race car drivers - golfers, etc of all the companies who are buying their vote and cancelling your own?
*Supreme Court by 5 to 3 ruled deals between brand name and generic companies can be challenged as anti-competetive. We'll see.
Friday, July 5, 2013
MY DAY
Eleanor Roosevelt - former First Lady - for many years wrote a column entitled "My Day". She was an excellent writer as well as a remarkable lady.
Alas, I am neither. However, today was My Day due to the non-conspirational writing of two of my favorites: Cal Thomas - a conservative columnist and Bob Beckel a liberal Democratic strategist.
Interestingly, as a long time registered Republican - but with Libra as my astrological sign - I most frequently agree with Bob.
In today's USA Today they found agreement with a pop culture topic:
Cal: "On my list of things about which I care nothing are Kim Kardashian, Kanye West and their out of wedlock child, Paula Deen and the potty mouthed Alec Baldwin. As for Kardashian, having a baby under such conditions used to be shameful, but now pop culture approves of everything.
Celebrity is king (or queen) no matter how you attain it, and Kardashian attained hers with a sex tape and still does nothing that contributes anything to culture. How much lower can we go?"
Bob: "Let's hope this is the bottom. Today pop culture awards celebrity and treasure to people who have done nothing to deserve it, other than being outrageous enough to get themselves in the tabloids.
Kardashian was a nobody until her father represented O.J. Simpson. I'll give her this: she parlayed that tiny thread into celebrity. But if people had not gone along with the scam, we wouldn't be talking about her today."
Cal: "Focusing on celebrities has a dumbing-down effect on our politics, forcing many of our leaders to appeal to the uneducated and uninterested. It's why we hear so many banalities and appeals to emotions, rather than substantive ideas.
Today, the closest many people get to history is the instant replay."
Bob: "Not only has celebrity dumbed down our politics, it has become intertwined with it. I would be delighted not to see another celebrity - regardless of their political beliefs - come to Washington to make another appeal for some cause about which they know little. Beyond their celebrity, many "buy" influence through political donations and an ability to motivate others to give money to a city already awash in cash."
Cal: "Pop culture is to the mind what sugary cereal is to -- the body".
Bob: "I think about our soldiers in Afghanistan, their enormous discipline, commitment to values and defense of our country. When I compare them with our fixation on celebrities, it makes me sick."
Alas, I am neither. However, today was My Day due to the non-conspirational writing of two of my favorites: Cal Thomas - a conservative columnist and Bob Beckel a liberal Democratic strategist.
Interestingly, as a long time registered Republican - but with Libra as my astrological sign - I most frequently agree with Bob.
In today's USA Today they found agreement with a pop culture topic:
Cal: "On my list of things about which I care nothing are Kim Kardashian, Kanye West and their out of wedlock child, Paula Deen and the potty mouthed Alec Baldwin. As for Kardashian, having a baby under such conditions used to be shameful, but now pop culture approves of everything.
Celebrity is king (or queen) no matter how you attain it, and Kardashian attained hers with a sex tape and still does nothing that contributes anything to culture. How much lower can we go?"
Bob: "Let's hope this is the bottom. Today pop culture awards celebrity and treasure to people who have done nothing to deserve it, other than being outrageous enough to get themselves in the tabloids.
Kardashian was a nobody until her father represented O.J. Simpson. I'll give her this: she parlayed that tiny thread into celebrity. But if people had not gone along with the scam, we wouldn't be talking about her today."
Cal: "Focusing on celebrities has a dumbing-down effect on our politics, forcing many of our leaders to appeal to the uneducated and uninterested. It's why we hear so many banalities and appeals to emotions, rather than substantive ideas.
Today, the closest many people get to history is the instant replay."
Bob: "Not only has celebrity dumbed down our politics, it has become intertwined with it. I would be delighted not to see another celebrity - regardless of their political beliefs - come to Washington to make another appeal for some cause about which they know little. Beyond their celebrity, many "buy" influence through political donations and an ability to motivate others to give money to a city already awash in cash."
Cal: "Pop culture is to the mind what sugary cereal is to -- the body".
Bob: "I think about our soldiers in Afghanistan, their enormous discipline, commitment to values and defense of our country. When I compare them with our fixation on celebrities, it makes me sick."
Monday, July 1, 2013
My Criminal Past
A little girl says to her grandmother, "How old are you, Gram?" She says, "sixty-five." The little girl asks her, "Did you start at 1?"
As a septugenarian, I realize the years have piled up and I'm starting to worry about my past coming back to haunt me. No, not the many wrongs I committed due to a lot of repressed anger. I'm talking about the truly big mistakes.
I was reminded of this the other day as I was reading about the travails of celebrity chef Paula Deen. Ms. Deen has recently witnessed more mutiny than Captain Queeg - and without the benefit of those steel balls Bogey juggled as he, too, desperately sought calm from chaos.
In Paula's case you may ask who chose to mutiny and why?
Well, just about every sponsor she has ever had for her many cooking products, recipes, kitchen implements,etc. It's rumored that even Uncle Ben and Aunt Jemimah jilted her. That's assuming they're still in the good graces of an ever increasing reactionary politically-correct business environment.
Even the supercilious decision makers over at Wal-Mart have realized that Paula and her hot potato - with or without the generous gobs of sour cream and slabs of butter she might have recommended - were no longer going to make their traveling squad.
To my amazement, the only one Paula seems to have in her corner - not for her fatty food recipes - but, at least over her use of the "n word" was none other than USA Today's contributor DeWayne Wickham, one of the first to go into attack mode over the slightest sniff of suspected racism.
He writes, "Paula Deen, 66, is being punished for telling the truth under oath about the racist word she spoke in "private" (ed.) years ago and which she now disavows. There ought to be a statute of limitations of the privately spoken, bigoted banter of someone who was born in the Jim Crow age and has come to regret it. So, I'm willing to give Deen a pass."
I agree with both conclusions. There is a valid reason the NAACP apparently felt no compulsion to become the NAABP.
So, here's my dilemma. When I was about 6 years old - maybe about the age of the young girl in the opening paragraph - my buddy Jack Bash, and I pulled down our shorts and peed against the side of my house.
My question, based on the Deen debacle: Are the indecent exposure police going to come knocking on my door any time soon?
I too, regret, my criminal past.
As a septugenarian, I realize the years have piled up and I'm starting to worry about my past coming back to haunt me. No, not the many wrongs I committed due to a lot of repressed anger. I'm talking about the truly big mistakes.
I was reminded of this the other day as I was reading about the travails of celebrity chef Paula Deen. Ms. Deen has recently witnessed more mutiny than Captain Queeg - and without the benefit of those steel balls Bogey juggled as he, too, desperately sought calm from chaos.
In Paula's case you may ask who chose to mutiny and why?
Well, just about every sponsor she has ever had for her many cooking products, recipes, kitchen implements,etc. It's rumored that even Uncle Ben and Aunt Jemimah jilted her. That's assuming they're still in the good graces of an ever increasing reactionary politically-correct business environment.
Even the supercilious decision makers over at Wal-Mart have realized that Paula and her hot potato - with or without the generous gobs of sour cream and slabs of butter she might have recommended - were no longer going to make their traveling squad.
To my amazement, the only one Paula seems to have in her corner - not for her fatty food recipes - but, at least over her use of the "n word" was none other than USA Today's contributor DeWayne Wickham, one of the first to go into attack mode over the slightest sniff of suspected racism.
He writes, "Paula Deen, 66, is being punished for telling the truth under oath about the racist word she spoke in "private" (ed.) years ago and which she now disavows. There ought to be a statute of limitations of the privately spoken, bigoted banter of someone who was born in the Jim Crow age and has come to regret it. So, I'm willing to give Deen a pass."
I agree with both conclusions. There is a valid reason the NAACP apparently felt no compulsion to become the NAABP.
So, here's my dilemma. When I was about 6 years old - maybe about the age of the young girl in the opening paragraph - my buddy Jack Bash, and I pulled down our shorts and peed against the side of my house.
My question, based on the Deen debacle: Are the indecent exposure police going to come knocking on my door any time soon?
I too, regret, my criminal past.
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