Blog @ MoreWhat.com

from Maggie’s Notebook……. you don’t want to miss this one.
Incisive Article by Thomas Sowell

from Conservative Thoughts….. more surprises from healthcare reform proposals

HR 3200 Not for English Speaking Americans pg 400

from Right Truth…… race talk and it’s not NASCAR

Racing to the Race Card: An Observation of Conflict Building

from Perri Nelson….. can you ever agree with Barack Obama?

Even a stopped clock…

from Third World County…… and we wonder why reform is a messy business

Krugman pwn3d on Healthcare “Reform”

from Woman Honor Thyself…… not the kind of story you might think

Beluga Whale saves drowning Diver

The posts above are truly good reads. Tired of the same old MSM? You should be ! Do yourself a favor and check out the list above.

Recommended by none other than Blog @ MoreWhat.com If you want more what you know where to find it.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

A perfect example of why the global warming crowd is misguided. Forget the disputes about who is right or wrong on the idea of AGW or whatever it is called now. Seeking solutions to issues, real or imagined, through the government, aka politicians, is never a wise choice.

The title of the piece below from The Hill also muddies the water. It is not a matter of ‘consumers’ seeking changes to the laughable ‘climate change bill’ rather it is a battle between special interests. Lobbyists in the form of manufacturing or industrial interests are facing off with interests who claim to champion consumers.

The public at large or the real consumer, is largely unaware of the specifics in legislation of any kind not to mention the global warming variety. This is a classic case of be careful what you wish for, you may get it.

Not unlike the issue of healthcare reform, the climate change legislation is subject to the business as usual in Washington that one politician after another said was going to change. Not the least of which was the current President. The power brokers in Washington, lobbyists included, still have the last word on legislation. If you go to that trough seeking change you will be subjected to the pecking order which renders no proposal, worthy or otherwise, exempt from producing an outcome not of your choosing.

Consider groups like AARP only involve themselves in this type of action to increase or maintain their membership. Could it be that win or lose so-called consumer groups benefit from these matters by saying they fought for their members? And are the majority of their members even paying attention? Or are they simply delegating their responsibility to someone else as when or if they step up to the ballot box on election day?

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Consumers seek climate bill changes
By Jim Snyder
Posted: 07/22/09 06:31 PM [ET]

Consumer groups, including the powerful seniors’ lobby AARP, say House climate change legislation does not do enough to protect households from skyrocketing electric bills or to prevent power companies from reaping windfall profits.

They want the Senate to add more explicit language that requires local utilities to pass along the revenues from the sale of the free emission allowances distributed by the federal government to residential consumers.

As many times as the Democrats have labeled the GOP as the party of ‘no’ one aspect of the political bickering in Washington gets little attention. With a Democrat in the White House and a majority in Congress liberals not only control votes and would likely not vote for a GOP health proposal but the likelihood it would ever get to the floor is almost nil. The only reason the Democrats want a GOP health reform proposal is so they do not own whatever happens by themselves.

In The Hill piece below it was reported Dems are criticizing Roy Blunt for not delivering the GOP healthcare reform proposal ‘36 days’ after announcing they would have one presented. Compare that with how long the Dems have been sputtering with multiple proposals all of which have been panned by the CBO, members of their own party as well as dismal polling data.

Again, the Dems do not want to be the only ones with targets on their backs now that their agenda for healthcare reform is tanking. It may be tanking for a good reason. It is not really healthcare reform but a powerplay. They want to control everything about citizens health choices. And they want to extend taxpayer funded healthcare to those who are not citizens. It is a long list of bad policy decisions. Their only interest in bipartisan cooperation is to share the blame for a massive fraud on the American taxpayer.

Boehner says GOP health alternative is coming
By Molly K. Hooper
Posted: 07/23/09 06:09 PM [ET]

Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) said on Thursday afternoon that Republicans will have an alternative healthcare reform bill to offer but did not say when it would be ready.

He told reporters that Republicans will “make decisions at the appropriate time for how we’ll proceed,” but that they are “putting the final touches on [their] bill, just as Democrats” are doing.

Only days later another nearly identical piece shows up at Politico. The only part in this piece which points to the real story is the last paragraph. Boehner comments that the more we know about the plan the less we like it and that will only become more clear as the August recess gets underway. Which underscores the President’s urging that it had to get done before the recess. A little sunlight for a President who claims a mantle of transparency and accountability is a problem for Barack Obama. As Boehner said the more we find out about this bill the less we will like it. That could make you a little suspicious of the majority party and their political agenda.

Republicans yet to reveal their own health care bill
By ALEX ISENSTADT | 7/27/09 5:04 PM EDT

While House Republican leaders blast away at the Democratic health care reform legislation, the GOP has yet to reveal its own alternative legislation.

“We continue to work on our bill, as Democrats are working on their bill,” House Minority Leader John Boehner told reporters Monday.

Not presenting a competing proposal for healthcare reform is a good idea from the GOP. Call them the party of ‘no’ all you like. Letting the liberals own healthcare reform is the smart play. Why? Because they do and there is no need to interfere or throw them a lifesaver. Giving them more rope however may be helpful.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Is America fat? Are you fat? How many members of your family are fat? How many of your friends are fat?

The report below is published in a ‘journal’ named Health Affairs. Some non-profit named the Research Triangle Institute and the Center for Disease Control produced a ’study’. If you can look in the mirror and have responded to the questions above in a manner indicating most of the people you know are fat why do we need a study to tell us what we should already know?

Is there any valid reason for being fat? If this report and others like it are true, what does it say about a country with so many fat people. And who really believes that some people cannot help being fat?

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

New research shows that obesity and the cost of treating obesity-related illnesses in the United States rose dramatically between 1998 and 2006.

The study was published Monday in the journal Health Affairs. It said obesity-related health spending was estimated at $147 billion a year in 2006, roughly double the $74 billion estimated just eight years earlier.

Researchers from a nonprofit group, the Research Triangle Institute, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in their study that obesity-related health conditions, including diabetes and heart disease, now account for 9.1 percent of all medical spending. That’s up from 6.5 percent in 1998.

The report says obesity itself rose 37 percent in that time, and nearly a third of Americans are now considered to be obese.

The CDC says the United States must bring down its obesity rates to reduce health care costs. It recommends that communities fight obesity by promoting healthy eating and physical activity.

The study also was released at the Weight of the Nation CDC conference in Washington on health and obesity.

Has the economic situation become so bleak in some people’s eyes or the state of Michigan that an interest in managing a prison hosting Gitmo detainees is seen as sensible? Desperate circumstances require desperate measures, maybe, but this smells like public prostitution with a government pimp. When you begin accepting ideas that would never have been considered in better economic times, red flags should be noticed not ignored.

If the state of Michigan sees Gitmo detainees as a key to their economic salvation the fall of the American auto industry has not been greatly exaggerated. And a question arises about Michigan’s commitment to save that industry. Democrats including Obama may have painted themselves into a corner with a deadline to close Gitmo. Republicans oppose Gitmo North but liberals are typically ready, willing and able to do whatever it takes to pursue their agenda even if that includes failure.

Members of Congress, voicing fears that the prisoners would endanger their constituents, blocked the use of money in the $106 billion war-funding bill from going toward the prison’s closure, and House members in their defense appropriation bill have included a ban on transferring the detainees to U.S. soil

Some of what Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) has to say on the issue may be a little peculiar but one sentence of his quotes from The Hill’s article makes the obvious point. “And the only reason [Democrats] want to do it is for a few dollars.”

Those supporting Gitmo North should snap out of it and seek therapy. It won’t help but it may keep them out of circulation and let the smart ones decide the issue. This may not simply be a Michigan concern. Neighboring states or the entire nation have reason to be troubled by any detainee containment in the US given the risks known and unknown that come with the problem.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

from Maggie’s Notebook….

Michigan Kansas Terrorist Prison Courtroom: Jon Stewart Gitmo Video

Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas may be the home of a new experimental stateside “Gitmo.” The Standish Maximum Correctional Facility in Standish, Michigan may be the second such facility. See a hilarious (allbeit liberal) video below with Jon Stewart. 

The United Nations is nothing more than an extension of existing conduits for nations to project their policy agendas. The lack of performance, effective outcomes and adherance to the organization’s orginal mission demonstrate the UN is at least obselete. True to past trends this latest attempt to pass off a ‘resolution’ as anything meaningful once again confirms international cooperation at the heads of state level is useless. The only purpose served is providing a venue whereby nations can bitch slap each other or organize tag teams for groups to bash a common target.

Talk, talk, talk and no action is an accurate description the United Nations. The statement to ‘do something even if it is wrong’ is a relevant suggestion and the only one this ‘body’ has seen fit to address.

As for the quote by Noam Chomsky (below) ’shut up’!

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

The United Nations General Assembly in meetings Thursday debated the implementation of the Responsibility to Protect or “R-to-P resolution.” In concept, it is a strategy based on state responsibility, international assistance and timely and decisive responses to countries in trouble around the world. But there is less than unanimous agreement that it will ever work.

The stage for Thursday’s debate was set early when Edward Luck, special advisor to the Secretary-General, told the U.N. General Assembly what not to do.

“What we do not need at this point, however, are efforts to turn back the clock to divide the membership, or to divert attention from our central task. The world is changing. Our thinking needs to evolve with it,” he said.

After an informal morning session, there was further discussion of the R-to-P issue by a panel of distinguished scholars and political activists. American Professor of linguistics and philosophy and political author, Noam Chomsky, did not believe the big or rich will rescue the poor and little.

“Take the case that I mentioned about the World Food Program cutting back its funding It wasn’t even reported in the mainstream in the United States. Who cares? It is a criticism of the Western countries,” he noted. “They’re the ones cutting down their funding because it’s more important by their priorities to bail-out banks than to feed people,” he said.

Garth Evans, co-chair of the International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty, stated he is not in favor of an all-encompassing rescue plan for the ills of the world.

“It’s very important that we must refine and define and narrow the scope of this enterprise so that it doesn’t become an all-purpose excuse for dealing with human rights generally and comfort generally,” he said.

The debate continues, the speeches go on. Will people help people? What are the boundaries of U.N. responsibility? The concluding evidence and the final decision is still to come.

The video speaks for itself. As for another take on Sgt Crowley, there’a a piece in the media that deserves a read. And for some the story will simply be another opportunity to criticize someone who appears to be doing their job.

The Cambridge cop prominent Harvard University professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. claims is a racist gave a dying Reggie Lewis mouth-to-mouth resuscitation in a desperate bid to save the Celtics superstar’s life 16 years ago Monday.

Yesterday, Lewis’ widow, Donna Lewis, was floored to learn the embattled father of three on the thin blue line of a national debate on racism in America was the same man so determined to rescue her husband.

“That’s incredible,” Lewis, 44, exclaimed. “It’s an unfortunate situation. Hopefully, it can resolve itself. The most important thing is peace.”

The take from this blog suggests Mr Gates had choices. Given Mr Gates’ apparent resume’ if he felt he was being mistreated would it not have been more practical and sensible to pursue the issue after the night in question? If he is in fact a respectable and capable member of the academic world at Harvard which seems to be the fact, why pitch a fit or act the drama queen after a neighbor, the police and/or others respond the way most of us would appreciate if the same scenario occurred at our own homes?

That’s the real question. Not whether or not Sgt James Crowley is a racist.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Republicans on Wednesday criticized as inappropriate a meeting President Obama held Monday with the director of the Congressional Budget Office, Douglas Elmendorf.

The CBO will have to change their appraisals of Obamanation if they want to be happy in Obamaland. The CBO is telling it like it is, not like the Democrats and POTUS. Three cheers for Elmendorf and keep up the good work.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

California’s Budget Deal a Win for Conservatives
After months of suspense, Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders come to an agreement
By Queenie Wong
Posted July 22, 2009

A deal struck between Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and California legislative leaders Monday evening to close the state’s $26.3 billion budget deficit would significantly cut government spending without tax increases.

This is one idea Obamaland could use. Cut government spending and do not raise taxes. Lowering taxes would be better but not raising them is good. The only thing funnier than this coming outta the land of fruits and nuts is the name in this USN&WR byline.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

If you are tired of ABC, CBS, NBC, etc.,etc, watch this video take on Obama

Couch Potatoes Don’t Watch Obama

More than 70 percent of votes in a TVGuide.com poll are from people who say they would rather watch their regular shows in prime time than watch President Barack Obama.

Like this is a suprise.

And we wonder why the state of the nation is troubling and why elections turn out the way they do. If the couch potato is a large enough component of the US population it may explain why we have so many public issues to resolve. Would a couch potato be concerned about healthcare? Would a couch potato care if we were headed toward socialism? If you remember the civics literacy test results couch potatoism may be responsible for the miserable results.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

In the interest of full disclosure lest the reader feel ‘duped’ or simply unaware the author of this blog is white. What’s worse is the remainder of the author’s demographic may be one of the most despised at least currently… older white male. The ‘older’ part of the description is based on the fact that given current life expectancy data for this particular demographic this author is certainly in the second half of life.

So on to a post topic dealing with reparations for the history of slavery or internment in America. A recent take on the topic comes from none other than the United States Senate as described below.

On June 18th, the United States Senate issued a proclamation formally apologizing for slavery that ended almost 150 years ago in the American South.

The Senate’s only black member, Roland Burris of Illinois, said the measure was significant and long overdue but in no way would eliminate future actions that may deal with reparations.

But reparations - or monetary atonement for past injustices - are a stickier proposition than an apology.

In 1988, Congress voted to pay $20,000 to each survivor of Japanese-Americans who were interred in camps on the U.S. West Coast during World War II.

In terms of the reparations involving Japanese-Americans a description of that process is offered below.

The Office of Redress Administration (ORA) was established in the Civil Rights Division by Section 105 of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. ORA acknowledged, apologized, and made restitution for the fundamental injustices of the evacuation, relocation, and internment of Japanese Americans during World War II (WWII). The redress program was charged with administering the ten-year program, which, by operation of law, officially closed on February 5, 1999. ORA was responsible for identifying, locating, and authorizing tax-free restitution payment of $20,000 to eligible individuals of Japanese ancestry. Since the redress program’s inception, ORA has provided $20,000 in redress to more than 82,219 eligible claimants, totaling more than $1.6 billion.

Among the estimated 82,219 individuals paid, 189 were Japanese Latin American claimants eligible for the full $20,000 in redress compensation under the Act because they had the required permanent residency status or U.S. citizenship during the defined war period. In addition, ORA paid $5,000 to 145 Japanese Latin Americans who were deported from their homes in Latin America during WWII and held in internment camps in the U.S. These payments stem from an agreement resolving a 1996 civil suit filed by four Japanese Latin Americans. The agreement, which settles the so-called Mochizuki case, calls for all qualified class members to receive a presidential apology letter and $5,000 in compensation, to the extent that funds were remaining under the Act.

It is unlikely that anyone who stands to gain from reparations would oppose them. For everyone else it may present a problem which has typically been argued in the following manner.

Opponents say reparations are a recipe for racial hatred. As white Congressman Henry Hyde once argued, “I never owned a slave. I never oppressed anybody. I don’t know that I should have to pay for someone who did, generations before I was born.”

If you were a fan of the program West Wing or happened to see the episode that dealt with this topic you may know where the next point is heading. Aaron Sorkin and friends probably did their homework and came up with a figure for reparations due to slavery. If memory serves the number was something like $1.6 trillion dollars. Whatever the details it is reasonable to conclude it is an enormous figure.

Given we have the first black and white President in the name of Barack Hussein Obama and spending trends are off the charts in the federal government we might as well do it now if we’re going to do it. After all, the level of spending, deficits and national debt will probably cripple this nation or cause it to fail anyhow so what’s one more unaffordable payment?

The only problem this blog author has with the topic of this post is the conclusion. For instance, in terms of this being a current discussion on an old unresolved issue it seems we have not heard, for example, from Native Americans and what they may want for reparations. And as far as anyone knows there may be many others who feel entitled to monetary compensation from the United States taxpayer. We should at least have some sort of deadline for submitting a current grievance on such matters so we can come up with a final figure on what these issues will cost to everyone’s satisfaction.

That from an older white male who’s original opinion on this topic would be fairly characterized as being essentially equal to that of former Congressman Henry Hyde. But it would take more time and space to explain a current take on the matter. And it is likely no one would be interested in reading it.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Certainly there are still those who have no sympathy for people losing their homes to foreclosure. This post is just another attempt at this blog to help everyone be fair. While no sympathy is suggested for those who knowingly played the subprime game or speculated on thin margins for financing pipe dreams etc., there are others who deserve to be viewed differently. Yes, sometimes bad things happen to good people and still one must deal with it but they should not be cast in the same light as the greedy.

Data compiled by real estate information services company RealtyTrac warns that about 1.5 million U.S. owners have been told they are in danger of losing their homes. The company Thursday said one in every 84 households got at least one foreclosure notice during the first six months of the year, a new record, despite government efforts to help homeowners.

RealtyTrac officials said a growing number of Americans are not able to make monthly home loan payments because they no longer have jobs.

Yup, one of the most common reasons for getting in financial trouble is losing your job. Under most economic circumstances replacing that job would have a certain degree of difficulty. And if one was able to follow the sage advice of having at least a year’s net income in savings most job interruptions (with or without unemployment insurance) could be managed with losing your home.

But these are not exactly most economic circumstances. And the political climate certainly does not encourage ordinary citizens when someone steps up and says, ‘I am from the government and I am here to help’. Worse yet, no one may be saying that to those who are in trouble.

The Fed has said unemployment may peak at more than 10 percent. The most recent data shows the U.S. unemployment rate at 9.5 percent, a 26-year high.

During a hearing Thursday, the U.S. Treasury assistant secretary for financial stability, Herbert Allison, told senators the Obama administration was doing everything it could to help distressed homeowners.

After all the hype about what the new agenda was going to cure this does not bode well for the Obamanation. Did someone say one reason to have POLS quickly pass the Recovery Act without reading it was to help those facing foreclosure. You notice there is little being said about such things now when at one time the subprime mess and related topics were front and center in the news. Maybe once it is clear the government can do nothing about it the story is no longer news.

What would be the ultimate insult is if the greedy players got help and those who played by the rules got hosed in foreclosure. Oh, another story comes to mind.

The second largest bank in the United States is making money despite ongoing concerns about the health of the U.S. economy.

JPMorgan Chase Thursday said its profits during the second quarter of this year (April-June) jumped to $2.7 billion - a 36 percent increase over the same time last year.

Bank officials say its earnings increased due to trading in stocks and bonds but warned its lending activities, including home loans and credit cards, are still struggling.

The ‘money changers’ certainly got help from all those bad ol’ toxic assets from the American taxpayer. How much taxpayer help will go to homeowners who actually deserve it?

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

With U.S. unemployment at a 25 year high, older workers say it’s becoming increasingly difficult to compete for jobs against younger counterparts. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says workers ages 45 and above are staying unemployed longer, about 22 weeks compared to 16 weeks for younger workers. Although many of the so called “baby boomers,” [born between 1946 and 1964] are now in the prime of their careers, many have to confront age bias in a dismal job market.

According to the range of years above ‘boomers’ (not the submarine kind) are between about 45 years and age 63. With full retirement way above the top of that age range the impending doom for Social Security and Medicare seems to indicate we haven’t begun to stress the system. But then with the retirement age continuing to be put farther into one’s future and things being what they are otherwise retirement may not be an option for older workers until their mid-seventies. But what will be available for occupations may paint an even more dismal picture.

But fear not, your President is on the job.

U.S. President Barack Obama is calling for a $12 billion investment in two-year colleges, to help train millions of Americans who are out of work. The president made his case Tuesday in the state with the nation’s worst unemployment rate.

Considering the fact that the GAO reported the first porkulus package from your favorite politicians in Washington focused on transportation, education and Medicaid another $12 billion seems redundant. Of the billions targeted in porkulus for education the GAO indicated that money went for staff and program retention. Yes, that is why it is sometimes referred to as porkulus or the generational theft act. Billions in pork to payoff those who voted en masse for the current President. And with all the money going to ‘education’ he wants another $12 billion for ‘community colleges’. That would be expected from a ‘community organizer’. And just what will the effect of any of this money be across the board on the unemployed?

That remains to be seen but you can guess. One thing for sure, ’staff’ and ‘programs’ will be saved or initiated. The number of jobs netted from this expenditure remains a mystery. Everyone may be on their own to deal with unemployment but older workers for typical and atypical reasons will not fair as well as younger ones.

But one saving grace for the Messiah is that the trend for older workers may be the expectation we will expire before collecting SSI or filing claims to Medicare or Medicaid. Our legacy could then be that we lessen the burden on future generations to pay the bill on The One’s agenda.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

note: For those of you curious about the years of birth for being a ‘boomer’ check this link to view some population date from the Census Bureau and draw your own conclusions.

http://www.census.gov/population/estimates/nation/popclockest.txt

As sworn in, President Barack Hussein Obama may have people swearing at him these days. One of his gurus from the administration’s ‘brain trust’ was on Fox News Sunday. Once again the White House is playing defense. That is because of the clash between their glowing forecasts on economic recovery and the current reality just months later. Peter Orszag, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget tried to make the case that all ‘the blue chip indexes’ had numbers Obama’s crew used for their forecast.

While Mr Orszag was the Director of CBO for two years before working for the President that must be emphasized. He may or may not have been non-partisan at CBO but the OMB works at the pleasure of the President. So you can guess who puts the words in his mouth now.

And the puppeteer-in-chief had his crew working the news shows this Sunday. Perhaps there will be a post here later on HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. She was shoveling a rather large pile of fertilizer on Meet the Press this weekend.

Speaking of the puppeteer-in-chief his own words have been repeated, mildly altered and repeated again in recent weeks. After having his crew speak on his agenda’s behalf you can look back at Barack Obama’s attempt to save his polling numbers. After the apology or excuse of sorts for the last forecast blunder he is likely making another one.

“My expectation is that we will probably continue to see unemployment tick up for several months,” Mr. Obama said.

For several months he says when other sources used in the news this weekend at least predict sorry employment figures through 2010. Oh no for BO it’s an election year. Was it a hope and change or hope and a prayer that his previous forecast work out for the coming ballot box?

President Barack Obama says his economic recovery plan is working as intended. But the president cautions that it will take more time for the stimulus to have its full effect.

Sure, tell us more Mr President. Why are so many in the news describing the stimulus as a failure? Why are so many rejecting the idea of another porkulus package? Could it be that with the near $800 billion already out there with no relief in sight that no sane interpretation of risk/reward is available? And this doesn’t count all the other government spending from the typical to the absurd and all which we cannot now afford. And the President wants to get his healthcare takeover finished before the August recess.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com