Delaware Celebrates: First Person Finally Enrolls in Obamacare | The Weekly Standard:
""Department of Health and Social Service officials have declared 59-year-old Janice Baker of Selbyville the first confirmed resident to enroll in the marketplace. It opened Oct. 1 as part of the roll-out of the Affordable Care Act."
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Jim Rogers Blasts "This Is Going To End Badly... And The Rest Of The World Knows It"
Jim Rogers Blasts "This Is Going To End Badly... And The Rest Of The World Knows It" | Zero Hedge:"The only thing exceptional about the USA is "its the largest debtor nation in the history of the world" is how Jim Rogers begins this brief interview with RT and he doesnt back away from the rhetoric.
The sad truth, he notes, is that the US "has been kicking the can down the road for years..." how do you think we got so much debt, he chides.
"Every year that goes by we go deeper and deeper into debt," adding, rather ominously, that it "will be solved one way or another."
They will kick the can once more; then next week, we will be told that the problem is fixed and compromise is here.
However, Rogers warns, eventually the market is going to turn away; "this is going to end badly... and the rest of the world knows it.""
Detroit Looks At Goats, Sheep To Trim Overgrown Lots
Detroit Looks At Goats, Sheep To Trim Overgrown Lots « CBS Detroit:"DETROIT (WWJ/AP) -
A member of Detroit’s City Council wants to know whether goats and sheep might help deal with tall grass on overgrown lots."
The Disturbing Trend in America We're Not Talking About — Elder Abuse
The Disturbing Trend in America We're Not Talking About — Elder Abuse - PolicyMic:
"Elder abuse may not be making national headlines, but it ought to be.
In Mercer County, Penn., a woman was dropped off starving and emaciated because her grandson spent $86,000 of her money on drugs and personal amenities.
Across the country in Oregon, four elderly plaintiffs are in the process of suing a retirement community for financially abusing them by tricking them into signing misleading rental documents.
Meanwhile, a Georgia woman has been charged with running an unlicensed retirement home in order to financially gouge its elderly residents while neglecting to meet their needs.
The issue goes beyond scamming and shady senior citizen facilities; even legitimate retirement centers often mistreat their elderly patients. "
"Elder abuse may not be making national headlines, but it ought to be.
In Mercer County, Penn., a woman was dropped off starving and emaciated because her grandson spent $86,000 of her money on drugs and personal amenities.
Across the country in Oregon, four elderly plaintiffs are in the process of suing a retirement community for financially abusing them by tricking them into signing misleading rental documents.
Meanwhile, a Georgia woman has been charged with running an unlicensed retirement home in order to financially gouge its elderly residents while neglecting to meet their needs.
The issue goes beyond scamming and shady senior citizen facilities; even legitimate retirement centers often mistreat their elderly patients. "
ATF’s prescription for leaking secrets: A firing squad?
ATF’s prescription for leaking secrets: A firing squad? - Washington Times:"After months of anguished debate over mass shootings, gun control and Second Amendment rights, the Justice Department finds itself on the defensive after a training manual surfaced that suggests federal agents could face a firing squad for leaking government secrets.
The online manual for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives — complete with a photo of a turn-of-the-century firing squad — was obtained by The Washington Times from a concerned federal law enforcement official, and it immediately drew protests from watchdogs who said it showed a lack of sensitivity to gun violence and the continuing hostile environment toward whistleblowers."
Why Are So Many Counties Trying to Secede From Their States?
Why Are So Many Counties Trying to Secede From Their States? - Businessweek:"It’s important to point out that none of these movements are attempts to secede from the United States.
...And while the movements that are furthest along, those in Colorado and Maryland, are backed by Tea Partiers (you can find people urging each other to to sign up for the 51st State Initiative on the Tea Party Community website), not every proposed state would be populated with conservatives.
Last year, Arizona’s liberal-leaning Pima County, home to Tucson, tried to declare itself the state of Baja because it didn’t want to be governed by Arizona’s conservative majority."
Obama's war against America-DOD Still Barring 50 Priests from Administering Sacraments, LOCKS UP EUCHARIST, Priest Sues
DOD Still Barring 50 Priests from Administering Sacraments, Locks Up Eucharist, Priest Sues | CNS News:"DOD took this action because Hagel determined--after consulting with Attorney General Eric Holder's Justice Department--that civilian Catholic priests, working under contract as chaplains, did not, among other things, “contribute to the morale” and “well-being” of service personnel."
Obamacare and the Edsel: A Tale of Two Lemons
The American Spectator : Obamacare and the Edsel: A Tale of Two Lemons:"Last month, as the President, HHS Commissar Kathleen Sebelius, and their media toadies hyped the imminent launch of Obamacare’s dysfunctional insurance exchanges, few bothered to observe the 56th anniversary of “E-Day.”
Don’t remember E-Day?
This, believe it or not, was how the delusional leadership of Ford Motor Co. referred to the September 1957 rollout of another great American flop — the Edsel.
That misbegotten vehicle, whose goofy name has long since become synonymous with “spectacular failure,” had much in common with Obamacare. Both were based on bad ideas, full of much-ballyhooed features that didn’t work, and were despised by the public."
...Even Obama’s lickspittles at the New York Times have been shockedby the incompetence with which the software for Obamacare’s “insurance marketplace” was written: “For the past 12 days, a system costing more than $400 million and billed as a one-stop click-and-go hub for citizens seeking health insurance has thwarted the efforts of millions to simply log in.”
And, despite the lies told to Congress by Commissar Sebelius to the effect that the exchange technology was on track for a successful debut, “Confidential progress reports from the Health and Human Services Department show that senior officials repeatedly expressed doubts that the computer systems for the federal exchange would be ready on time.”
The history of the Nobel prize in maps and charts, and it’s not fair – there’s a lot of inequality in the global distribution
The history of the Nobel prize in maps and charts, and it’s not fair – there’s a lot of inequality in the global distribution | AEIdeas:"All of Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East combined have only 104 Nobel laureates.
These regions hold 81 percent of the world’s population but only 10% of its Nobel laureates."
The only thing that matters in Detroit, racial "outrage"-Detroit CFO resigns amid anger over 'shoot someone in a hoodie' comment
Detroit CFO resigns amid anger over 'shoot someone in a hoodie' comment | MLive.com:
"Members of City Council earlier on Tuesday had called for "swift action" regarding Bonsall.
......."Someone who is commenting on whether or not they have a right to shoot somebody in a hoodie, which is clearly a reference to the Trayvon Martin case, an issue that to many is fraught with racial overtones and strife and violence -- if there could be swift action based on the ghetto court comment, there should be swifter action on somebody asking can I shoot somebody in a hoodie," Watson said."
"Members of City Council earlier on Tuesday had called for "swift action" regarding Bonsall.
......."Someone who is commenting on whether or not they have a right to shoot somebody in a hoodie, which is clearly a reference to the Trayvon Martin case, an issue that to many is fraught with racial overtones and strife and violence -- if there could be swift action based on the ghetto court comment, there should be swifter action on somebody asking can I shoot somebody in a hoodie," Watson said."
And the taxpayer shouldn't either-Chrysler's Retirees Shouldn't Be Stuck Owning Chrysler
Chrysler's Retirees Shouldn't Be Stuck Owning Chrysler - Bloomberg:
"Chrysler's retirees are overwhelmingly dependent on the fortunes of a single company.
Even worse, that company is their own. "
"Chrysler's retirees are overwhelmingly dependent on the fortunes of a single company.
Even worse, that company is their own. "
A Return to Keynes?
A Return to Keynes? | RealClearPolitics:
"Despite the myth that it was the stock market crash of 1929 that caused the double-digit unemployment of the 1930s, unemployment never reached double digits in any of the 12 months that followed the 1929 stock market crash.
Unemployment peaked at 9 percent in December 1929 and was back down to 6.3 percent by June 1930, when the first major federal intervention took place under Herbert Hoover.
The unemployment decline then reversed, rising to hit double digits six months later.
As Hoover and then FDR continued to intervene, double-digit unemployment persisted throughout the remainder of the 1930s.
Conversely, when President Warren G. Harding faced an annual unemployment rate of 11.7 percent in 1921, he did absolutely nothing, except for cutting government spending.
Keynesian economists would say that this was exactly the wrong thing to do.
History, however, says that unemployment the following year went down to 6.7 percent -- and, in the year after that, 2.4 percent.
Under Calvin Coolidge, the ultimate in non-interventionist government, the annual unemployment rate got down to 1.8 percent.
How does the track record of Keynesian intervention compare to that? "
"Despite the myth that it was the stock market crash of 1929 that caused the double-digit unemployment of the 1930s, unemployment never reached double digits in any of the 12 months that followed the 1929 stock market crash.
Unemployment peaked at 9 percent in December 1929 and was back down to 6.3 percent by June 1930, when the first major federal intervention took place under Herbert Hoover.
The unemployment decline then reversed, rising to hit double digits six months later.
As Hoover and then FDR continued to intervene, double-digit unemployment persisted throughout the remainder of the 1930s.
Conversely, when President Warren G. Harding faced an annual unemployment rate of 11.7 percent in 1921, he did absolutely nothing, except for cutting government spending.
Keynesian economists would say that this was exactly the wrong thing to do.
History, however, says that unemployment the following year went down to 6.7 percent -- and, in the year after that, 2.4 percent.
Under Calvin Coolidge, the ultimate in non-interventionist government, the annual unemployment rate got down to 1.8 percent.
How does the track record of Keynesian intervention compare to that? "
$600+ million and it's "joyous"?-Cronyism, incompetence cited in failure of healthcare.gov site
Blog: Cronyism, incompetence cited in failure of healthcare.gov site:
""It's the joyous, simultaneous, nonlinear equation from hell," said Kip Piper, a former top official at HHS and OMB who is now a consultant in close contact with IT vendors.
Piper said it's no surprise that the administration has given up on certain functions given the technological complexity needed and the short time-frame.
So, in addition to the cronyism and incompetence, add "the joyous, simultaneous, nonlinear equation from hell."That just about sums up the entire mess."
""It's the joyous, simultaneous, nonlinear equation from hell," said Kip Piper, a former top official at HHS and OMB who is now a consultant in close contact with IT vendors.
Piper said it's no surprise that the administration has given up on certain functions given the technological complexity needed and the short time-frame.
So, in addition to the cronyism and incompetence, add "the joyous, simultaneous, nonlinear equation from hell."That just about sums up the entire mess."
Now get 'em fixed-Check out six places Muskegon city officials told need to be improved
Check out six places Muskegon city officials told need to be improved | MLive.com:
"Here are six of the dozens of suggestions that Peterson received during the trip that took he and city staff from downtown to Pere Marquette Park to the west and Muskegon Community College’s campus on the east:"
"Here are six of the dozens of suggestions that Peterson received during the trip that took he and city staff from downtown to Pere Marquette Park to the west and Muskegon Community College’s campus on the east:"
Cesspool of Alabama State U. ignores governor’s major fraud findings
Alabama State U. ignores governor’s major fraud findings | The Daily Caller:
"Alabama Republican Gov. Robert Bentley released the findings on Monday.
The audit concluded that “despite the numerous impediments to the investigation… there is sufficient predication to believe that a jury or trier of fact could conclude that multiple acts of fraud, waste and/or abuse are occurring and/or have occurred at ASU.”"
"Alabama Republican Gov. Robert Bentley released the findings on Monday.
The audit concluded that “despite the numerous impediments to the investigation… there is sufficient predication to believe that a jury or trier of fact could conclude that multiple acts of fraud, waste and/or abuse are occurring and/or have occurred at ASU.”"
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
More College Subsidies a Poor Investment
More College Subsidies a Poor Investment [Michigan Capitol Confidential]:
"At the national level, despite a 10-fold increase in federal funding, a lower percentage of low-income citizens are getting college degrees today than 40 years ago (12 percent in 1970 vs. 7 percent today)."
"At the national level, despite a 10-fold increase in federal funding, a lower percentage of low-income citizens are getting college degrees today than 40 years ago (12 percent in 1970 vs. 7 percent today)."
Bodies Double as Cash Machines With U.S. Income Lagging
Bodies Double as Cash Machines With U.S. Income Lagging: Economy - Bloomberg:
"In all but two quarters since the beginning of 2011, “hair,” “eggs,” or “kidney” have been among the top four autofill results for the Google search query, “I want to sell my...,” according to Nicholas Colas, chief market strategist at New York-based ConvergEx Group, which provides brokerage and trading-related services for institutional investors.
While Americans can legally sell hair, breast milk and eggs, the sale and purchase of a kidney in the U.S. is against the law.
“The fact that people even explore it indicates that there are still a lot of people worried about their financial outlook,” said Colas, who tracks off-the-grid economic indicators.
“This is very much unlike every other recovery that we’ve had.
It’s going to be a slow-grinding, very frustrating recovery.”"
"In all but two quarters since the beginning of 2011, “hair,” “eggs,” or “kidney” have been among the top four autofill results for the Google search query, “I want to sell my...,” according to Nicholas Colas, chief market strategist at New York-based ConvergEx Group, which provides brokerage and trading-related services for institutional investors.
While Americans can legally sell hair, breast milk and eggs, the sale and purchase of a kidney in the U.S. is against the law.
“The fact that people even explore it indicates that there are still a lot of people worried about their financial outlook,” said Colas, who tracks off-the-grid economic indicators.
“This is very much unlike every other recovery that we’ve had.
It’s going to be a slow-grinding, very frustrating recovery.”"
Lew: Interest Rate on T-Bills Nearly Tripled In One Week
Lew: Interest Rate on T-Bills Nearly Tripled In One Week | CNS News:
"Testifying in the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday, Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew said that the Treasury last week needed to offer nearly triple the interest rate it had offered the week before in order to sell Treasury bills at public auction."
"Testifying in the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday, Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew said that the Treasury last week needed to offer nearly triple the interest rate it had offered the week before in order to sell Treasury bills at public auction."
A ‘Common’ Debate: Common Core Curriculum Standards Are Promising But Dangerous
A ‘Common’ Debate: Common Core Curriculum Standards Are Promising But Dangerous [Mackinac Center]:
"Despite these advantages, there’s little evidence that implementing more standards will lead to better outcomes for students all by itself. Examining the effect state standards have had in the past at boosting learning, the Brookings Institution found that “the Common Core will have little to no effect on student achievement.”"
"Despite these advantages, there’s little evidence that implementing more standards will lead to better outcomes for students all by itself. Examining the effect state standards have had in the past at boosting learning, the Brookings Institution found that “the Common Core will have little to no effect on student achievement.”"
Obamanation! Obamacare insurance market deeply flawed: Aetna CEO
Obamacare insurance market deeply flawed: Aetna CEO:"Aetna's CEO gave a harshly critical review Monday of the federal government's Obamacare marketplace, saying, "There's so much wrong, you just don't know what's broken until you get a lot more of it fixed.""
Tonight 6:30-8:30 A ‘Common’ Debate: Common Core Curriculum Standards Are Promising But Dangerous
More info about tonight: http://muskegonpundit.blogspot.com/2013/10/tomorrow-tue-1015-learn-about-it.html
A ‘Common’ Debate: Common Core Curriculum Standards Are Promising But Dangerous [Mackinac Center]:
A ‘Common’ Debate: Common Core Curriculum Standards Are Promising But Dangerous [Mackinac Center]:
There are many other reasons to be skeptical of the Common Core’s ability to improve public education. Although collaboratively developed by state politicians, there is a very real threat the federal government will usurp control of these standards. The Obama administration’s decision to entice states to adopt these standards in order to qualify for the “Race to the Top” federal grant was a step in this direction.
If the federal government gains control of these standards, it’s unlikely they will remain rigorous. They will become highly politicized, and wealthy special interest groups (notably, teachers unions and public school officials) will lobby to have these standards reduced or watered down.
None of this would harm Michigan if the state could maintain its ability to back away from the standards at any time. But if the federal government again ties resources to the use of these standards, and if Michigan is heavily “invested,” opting out may become politically and practically difficult, if not impossible.
High standards should be used to hold tax-funded schools accountable for delivering educational opportunities to students. This is a worthy goal. But it’s more easily achieved by creating a marketplace of educational services where those who know and care the most about the best interests of children — parents —are the ultimate arbiters of quality. This decentralized and apolitical accountability beats any top-down dictate from the state.
The reality is though that until all parents have the ability to hold schools accountable by saying “no thank you” and voting with their feet, we’ll have to rely on some form of state-mandated accountability standards. The Common Core are better than Michigan’s status quo on this count, but also dangerous. Ideally, Michigan would implement better standards without risking the certain dangers associated with federal control of these standards.
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