Good day, family and friends!
This time, I am going to begin looking at the cure for the issues facing healthcare in our nation. As I have stipulated all along, while we may have the best healthcare system in the world, it does have some serious problems that need to be addressed. Because of this assertion of mine, I've been asked by numerous people (including one of my daughters), "if you acknowledge that the current system is broken, why do you oppose the Healthcare Reform Act that Congress passed this spring to fix it?" The short answer is this; because it's unconstitutional.
Public Law No. 111-148, formerly known as H.R.3590 - The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, signed into Law by President Barack Obama on 23 March 2010, violates the Article I, Section 8; Amendment IX; Amendment X; and Amendment XIV. Further, this Law dictates that, for the first time in the history of our great Republic, ordinary law-abiding citizens automatically become criminals unless they purchase a government-sanctioned commodity.
In Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution of the United States of America, it is clearly stated that, "...all Duties, Imposts, and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States." In Part I: Subpart I: Section 2701, entitled "Fair health insurance premiums", the Law establishes variable premiums based on age and annual income. This is in addition to Subtitle E: Subpart B: Sections 1411 - 1415, which provides special tax credits and 'cost-sharing' for citizens below the government-defined 'wealth' threshold. In other words, if you choose to work hard to earn a good education, apply yourself to your career and become successful, this Law forces you to not only pay more for your healthcare coverage, but you will be subsidizing the lifestyle choices of pot-smoking, minimum-wage slackers (like the characters of Dante and Randall from the "Clerks" movies) who have chosen to never apply themselves and perpetually exist on the fringe of society.
Amendment IX of the Constitution states, "The enumeration in the Constitution of certain Rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people." In other words, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights highlight select Natural Rights, but by no means lists them all. One of the Natural Rights the authors of the Constitution believed we posses by virtue of our very Humanity is the Right of Property. In other words, I, and only I, am entitled to the fruits of my labors and I am the final authority on how best to enjoy those fruits, as long as it does not infringe on the Rights of another. The Founders believed that only a despot would attempt to confiscate the property of one law-abiding citizen and deliver it to another all in the name of some nebulous 'greater good.' They intentionally crafted the Constitution as they did in an attempt to prevent the sort of draconian actions by the Federal government we've seen for nearly two decades. Whether you call it "Leveling the Playing Field" or "Social Justice", the redistribution of wealth prevalent throughout Public Law No. 111-148 is a clear violation of the Right of each and every American citizen to legally strive, legally succeed, and enjoy the legal results of that legal success.
Next time, we look at where this new Healthcare Reform Act runs afoul of Amendments X and XIV
Until next time, best regards...
© James P. Rice 2010
30 July 2010
20 June 2010
Another Open Letter to the Motion Picture Industry
Good day, family and friends!
Just about one year ago, I posted in this blog an open letter to the motion picture industry...particularly to the corporate boardrooms in Hollywood and New York City that control the 'mainstream' production companies. In that letter, I posed the question, "where has all the creativity gone?" Well, it's been a year. In the original letter, I noted seventeen movie remakes or 'revisionings' over the 13-year period spanning 1996 - 2009. I suspected my comments would fall on deaf ears...and I was right.
About two months ago, as the media blitz for the Summer releases began in earnest, one of my friends and I started discussing the culture of 'cash over creativity' in the motion picture industry. I decided to start doing a little casual research on projects currently underway. What I found appalled me. The following list is of movies that have been announced, have at least begun pre-production*, and are slated to be released sometime between April 2010 (when I started the list) and Summer 2013. I've divided it into three categories: Remakes/Revisionings, Old TV Series being made into Motion Pictures, and Animated Series being made into either Live Action Movies or Movies with CGI characters interacting with the real world. Remember, this list is from a casual search from very public sources and not from some sort of special 'insider' sources:
Remakes/Revisionings:
1. “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” (1954) – two different versions are in production…one scheduled for 2011 and one for 2012;
2. “All Quiet on the Western Front” (1930) – 2012;
3. “Barbarella” (1968) – 2012;
4. “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (1992) – 2012;
5. “Captain America” (1944, 1966, 1979, 1990) – 2011 (as “Captain America: The First Avenger”);
6. “Carousel” (1956) – 2013;
7. “Charly” (1968) – 2013 (as “Flowers for Algernon”);
8. “Dune” (1984) – 2012 (already remade once as a low-quality mini-series in 2000);
9. “Escape from New York” (1981) – 2011;
10. “Excalibur” (1981) – two different projects scheduled for 2012: one definitely listed as a remake of the 1981 John Boorman film, the other only defined as an ‘action fantasy’;
11. “Flash Gordon” (1980) – 2012;
12. “Footloose” (1984) – 2011;
13. “Harvey” (1950) – 2011;
14. “Highlander” (1986) – 2012 (after a number of progressively worse sequels and two half-way decent TV shows, it looks like the franchise is being completely reset to the beginning);
15. “Logan’s Run” (1976) – 2012;
16. “M*A*S*H” (1970) – 2010 (as “M.A.S.H”);
17. “My Fair Lady” (1964) – 2012;
18. “Poltergeist” (1982) – 2011;
19. “Popeye” (1980) – 2013;
20. “Red Dawn” (1984) – 2010;
21. “Romancing the Stone” (1984) – 2011;
22. “Short Circuit” (1986) – 2011;
23. “Soylent Green” (1973) – 2012;
24. “Spider-Man” (2002) – 2012 (complete reboot of the franchise with a petition being circulated to change Peter Parker's ethnic background to 'African American');
25. “Tarzan” (1932, 1966, 1981, 1984, 1999) – 2011;
26. “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” (1982) – 2011;
27. “The Dirty Dozen” (1967) – 2012 (as “Dirty Dozen”);
28. “The Evil Dead” (1981) – Renaissance Pictures alternates between saying this is a ‘revisioning’ of the first “Evil Dead” movie and that it’s actually going to be “Evil Dead IV”. Tentatively set for a 2011 release;
29. “The Hobbit” (1977) – 2011/2012 (should probably be in the ‘animation to live action category since the 1977 version was animated);
30. “The Karate Kid” (1984) – 2010;
31. “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” (1975) – 2010;
32. “The Thing” (1951, 1982) – 2011;
33. “The Wizard of Oz” (1939) – 2011 (following the original L. Frank Baum story as “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”) and 2013 (a ‘revisioning’ from the point of view of the Wizard as “Oz, the Great and Powerful”);
34. “True Grit” (1969) – Coen Bros. version due in 2010;
35. “Westworld” (1973) – 2012;
36. “Who is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?” (1978) – 2010 (as “Who is Killing the Great Chefs?”)
Old TV Series becoming Movies:
1. “I Dream of Jeannie” (1965) – 2010;
2. “Knight Rider” (1982, 2008) – 2012 (after failing to resurrect the franchise on TV, they are now trying to bring it to the big screen);
3. “Kung Fu” (1972) – 2011;
4. “The A-Team” (1983) – 2010;
5. “The Green Hornet” (1966) – 2010;
6. “Hawaii Five-0” (1968) – 2012
Animated Series becoming Live Action Movies:
1. “Avatar: The Last Airbender” (2005) – 2010 (as “The Last Airbender”);
2. “Cowboy Bebop” (1998) – 2011;
3. “Ghost in the Shell” (1995) – 2011;
4. “Scooby Doo” (1969, 1972) – 2010 (as “Scooby Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster”. This is a complete reboot of the live-action Scooby Doo movies with a whole new cast and some revisioning…including making Velma Asian.);
5. “The Smurfs” (1965, 1976, 1982) – 2011 (combination live action/CGI);
6. “Thundercats” (1985) – 2012
Where my previous casual research found 17 remakes spread over 13 years, this list is 48 movies coming out over the next 36 months! (A couple have already been released since I began compiling this list in April.) Come on, people! Show some artistic integrity. Once again, where has all the creativity gone? Don't get me wrong...there are some wonderfully creative projects coming out of the big studios; adaptations of both comic books and novels and completely new creative works such as "The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag", "Jane Eyre", "The Green Lantern", "Hamlet", "Despicable Me". Unfortunately, these seem to be the exceptions rather than the rule. It should be the other way around; remakes of old movies and TV shows should be the exception.
The bottom line, film moguls, is stop underestimating the intelligence of the average American and start backing more creative and unique projects. Keep in mind that, when you are taking a chance on something new and unique, you can probably do so for a lot less than you would pay for an established, over-used formula. Will there be flops? Of course! But that is true of the big-budget movies with A-list stars now (how much did you lose with "Alexander", "The Adventures of Pluto Nash", and "Gigli"?) Who knows, your creative courage may result in the discovery of the next "Star Wars", "The Matrix", or (heaven forbid!) "Napoleon Dynamite".
Best regards...
* pre-production is the state of motion picture production where the parts are being cast, locations are being scouted and obtained, and sets and props are being made.
© 2010 James P. Rice
Just about one year ago, I posted in this blog an open letter to the motion picture industry...particularly to the corporate boardrooms in Hollywood and New York City that control the 'mainstream' production companies. In that letter, I posed the question, "where has all the creativity gone?" Well, it's been a year. In the original letter, I noted seventeen movie remakes or 'revisionings' over the 13-year period spanning 1996 - 2009. I suspected my comments would fall on deaf ears...and I was right.
About two months ago, as the media blitz for the Summer releases began in earnest, one of my friends and I started discussing the culture of 'cash over creativity' in the motion picture industry. I decided to start doing a little casual research on projects currently underway. What I found appalled me. The following list is of movies that have been announced, have at least begun pre-production*, and are slated to be released sometime between April 2010 (when I started the list) and Summer 2013. I've divided it into three categories: Remakes/Revisionings, Old TV Series being made into Motion Pictures, and Animated Series being made into either Live Action Movies or Movies with CGI characters interacting with the real world. Remember, this list is from a casual search from very public sources and not from some sort of special 'insider' sources:
Remakes/Revisionings:
1. “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” (1954) – two different versions are in production…one scheduled for 2011 and one for 2012;
2. “All Quiet on the Western Front” (1930) – 2012;
3. “Barbarella” (1968) – 2012;
4. “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (1992) – 2012;
5. “Captain America” (1944, 1966, 1979, 1990) – 2011 (as “Captain America: The First Avenger”);
6. “Carousel” (1956) – 2013;
7. “Charly” (1968) – 2013 (as “Flowers for Algernon”);
8. “Dune” (1984) – 2012 (already remade once as a low-quality mini-series in 2000);
9. “Escape from New York” (1981) – 2011;
10. “Excalibur” (1981) – two different projects scheduled for 2012: one definitely listed as a remake of the 1981 John Boorman film, the other only defined as an ‘action fantasy’;
11. “Flash Gordon” (1980) – 2012;
12. “Footloose” (1984) – 2011;
13. “Harvey” (1950) – 2011;
14. “Highlander” (1986) – 2012 (after a number of progressively worse sequels and two half-way decent TV shows, it looks like the franchise is being completely reset to the beginning);
15. “Logan’s Run” (1976) – 2012;
16. “M*A*S*H” (1970) – 2010 (as “M.A.S.H”);
17. “My Fair Lady” (1964) – 2012;
18. “Poltergeist” (1982) – 2011;
19. “Popeye” (1980) – 2013;
20. “Red Dawn” (1984) – 2010;
21. “Romancing the Stone” (1984) – 2011;
22. “Short Circuit” (1986) – 2011;
23. “Soylent Green” (1973) – 2012;
24. “Spider-Man” (2002) – 2012 (complete reboot of the franchise with a petition being circulated to change Peter Parker's ethnic background to 'African American');
25. “Tarzan” (1932, 1966, 1981, 1984, 1999) – 2011;
26. “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” (1982) – 2011;
27. “The Dirty Dozen” (1967) – 2012 (as “Dirty Dozen”);
28. “The Evil Dead” (1981) – Renaissance Pictures alternates between saying this is a ‘revisioning’ of the first “Evil Dead” movie and that it’s actually going to be “Evil Dead IV”. Tentatively set for a 2011 release;
29. “The Hobbit” (1977) – 2011/2012 (should probably be in the ‘animation to live action category since the 1977 version was animated);
30. “The Karate Kid” (1984) – 2010;
31. “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” (1975) – 2010;
32. “The Thing” (1951, 1982) – 2011;
33. “The Wizard of Oz” (1939) – 2011 (following the original L. Frank Baum story as “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”) and 2013 (a ‘revisioning’ from the point of view of the Wizard as “Oz, the Great and Powerful”);
34. “True Grit” (1969) – Coen Bros. version due in 2010;
35. “Westworld” (1973) – 2012;
36. “Who is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?” (1978) – 2010 (as “Who is Killing the Great Chefs?”)
Old TV Series becoming Movies:
1. “I Dream of Jeannie” (1965) – 2010;
2. “Knight Rider” (1982, 2008) – 2012 (after failing to resurrect the franchise on TV, they are now trying to bring it to the big screen);
3. “Kung Fu” (1972) – 2011;
4. “The A-Team” (1983) – 2010;
5. “The Green Hornet” (1966) – 2010;
6. “Hawaii Five-0” (1968) – 2012
Animated Series becoming Live Action Movies:
1. “Avatar: The Last Airbender” (2005) – 2010 (as “The Last Airbender”);
2. “Cowboy Bebop” (1998) – 2011;
3. “Ghost in the Shell” (1995) – 2011;
4. “Scooby Doo” (1969, 1972) – 2010 (as “Scooby Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster”. This is a complete reboot of the live-action Scooby Doo movies with a whole new cast and some revisioning…including making Velma Asian.);
5. “The Smurfs” (1965, 1976, 1982) – 2011 (combination live action/CGI);
6. “Thundercats” (1985) – 2012
Where my previous casual research found 17 remakes spread over 13 years, this list is 48 movies coming out over the next 36 months! (A couple have already been released since I began compiling this list in April.) Come on, people! Show some artistic integrity. Once again, where has all the creativity gone? Don't get me wrong...there are some wonderfully creative projects coming out of the big studios; adaptations of both comic books and novels and completely new creative works such as "The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag", "Jane Eyre", "The Green Lantern", "Hamlet", "Despicable Me". Unfortunately, these seem to be the exceptions rather than the rule. It should be the other way around; remakes of old movies and TV shows should be the exception.
The bottom line, film moguls, is stop underestimating the intelligence of the average American and start backing more creative and unique projects. Keep in mind that, when you are taking a chance on something new and unique, you can probably do so for a lot less than you would pay for an established, over-used formula. Will there be flops? Of course! But that is true of the big-budget movies with A-list stars now (how much did you lose with "Alexander", "The Adventures of Pluto Nash", and "Gigli"?) Who knows, your creative courage may result in the discovery of the next "Star Wars", "The Matrix", or (heaven forbid!) "Napoleon Dynamite".
Best regards...
* pre-production is the state of motion picture production where the parts are being cast, locations are being scouted and obtained, and sets and props are being made.
© 2010 James P. Rice
24 May 2010
Healthcare in America: Affordability, the Summary
Good day, family and friends!
In my past six Healthcare posts, I have been looking at the costs associated with the best healthcare system in the world. Here's what I've discovered:
> It is very expensive to get the best medical training in the world and to develop, learn, acquire, and maintain modern state-of-the-art medical technologies. Doctors start their careers as much as $800K in debt before they ever see a patient;
> While there are clear-cut cases of greed in the insurance industry and instances where profit is placed ahead of the needs of the customers (patients), these cases are in the minority and most insurance providers are struggling to stay afloat. The average profit of the 1300+ insurance providers in 2008 was only 2.2%;
> The abrogation of the Principle of Personal Responsibility from our legal system and the accompanying environment of rampant litigation account for between 19% and 27% of the cost of healthcare every year through increased malpractice insurance premiums;
> The cost of the bureaucracy created to monitor the rules and manage the paperwork of the various healthcare insurance offerings account for between 14% and 32% of the cost of healthcare every year;
> Insurance Fraud perpetrated by both patients and physicians account for between 3% and 10% of the cost of healthcare every year. This has resulted in insurance companies creating "Benefits Coverage Panels" made up of non-medical personnel making medical decisions;
> And the betrayal of trust perpetrated by our elected officials who bow to special interest pressure to create laws and regulations designed to block the normal competition of the free market economy.
These six bullet points pretty much summarize the economic challenges to making healthcare in America more affordable. Just addressing real tort reform, policy and document simplification, and seriously hammering those who intentionally commit insurance fraud could reduce healthcare costs by close to half.
Next time, I'll start in on why the Obama/Pelosi/Reid Healthcare Reform Act is most definitely NOT the answer, then I will propose my own solutions. After all, identifying a problem without offering solutions is just bellyaching.
Until then, best regards...
© James P. Rice 2010
In my past six Healthcare posts, I have been looking at the costs associated with the best healthcare system in the world. Here's what I've discovered:
> It is very expensive to get the best medical training in the world and to develop, learn, acquire, and maintain modern state-of-the-art medical technologies. Doctors start their careers as much as $800K in debt before they ever see a patient;
> While there are clear-cut cases of greed in the insurance industry and instances where profit is placed ahead of the needs of the customers (patients), these cases are in the minority and most insurance providers are struggling to stay afloat. The average profit of the 1300+ insurance providers in 2008 was only 2.2%;
> The abrogation of the Principle of Personal Responsibility from our legal system and the accompanying environment of rampant litigation account for between 19% and 27% of the cost of healthcare every year through increased malpractice insurance premiums;
> The cost of the bureaucracy created to monitor the rules and manage the paperwork of the various healthcare insurance offerings account for between 14% and 32% of the cost of healthcare every year;
> Insurance Fraud perpetrated by both patients and physicians account for between 3% and 10% of the cost of healthcare every year. This has resulted in insurance companies creating "Benefits Coverage Panels" made up of non-medical personnel making medical decisions;
> And the betrayal of trust perpetrated by our elected officials who bow to special interest pressure to create laws and regulations designed to block the normal competition of the free market economy.
These six bullet points pretty much summarize the economic challenges to making healthcare in America more affordable. Just addressing real tort reform, policy and document simplification, and seriously hammering those who intentionally commit insurance fraud could reduce healthcare costs by close to half.
Next time, I'll start in on why the Obama/Pelosi/Reid Healthcare Reform Act is most definitely NOT the answer, then I will propose my own solutions. After all, identifying a problem without offering solutions is just bellyaching.
Until then, best regards...
© James P. Rice 2010
28 March 2010
Intermezzo: Form Follows Function
Good day, family and friends!
Not long ago, as I was watching some C-Span video clips of our Congress in action, I started looking at the chambers of both the House and the Senate and had the thought that it might be time for a little makeover. Don't get me wrong; I love the warmth and classic elegance of the dark woods and leather upholstery that hearken back to the late 18th and early 19th Centuries. I just think that, since our elected representatives are dealing with the issues facing America in the 21st Century, maybe they should be in 21st-century surroundings with access to 21st-century conveniences.
For example, replace the dark wood desks with something functional and sleek that includes integrated technology such as a universal docking station for a laptop computer and a charging pad for portable devices. I would also replace the old wooden lectern with one that has integrated teleprompters for scheduled speeches and presentations. I would also glass in the observation galleries so that the citizens of our great nation can come to watch and listen to their Congress in action, but not be able to disrupt the proceedings.
While we're at it, since the elected representatives are supposed to be representing their constituents and their states, I would rearrange the seating to ensure it is not separated along party lines. In the Senate, I suggest the use of paired "partners' desks" so that both Senators from each state would sit together, regardless of their chosen political faction. In the House, each Representative would have a separate desk, but it would be clustered in a "pod" with all the Representatives from that state. I would further emphasize that no state is more important than any other by randomly assigning the positioning of the states in the chamber at the start of each Congressional session, thereby avoiding the claiming of the "good seats" on the basis of seniority or party ranking.
Finally, I would love to see, evenly spaced around the room, wall panels engraved with aphorisms designed to keep Congress on track. They should be large enough and placed in such a way that every Senator and Representative would be able to see every panel from their seat, if they choose to look around. Some of the reminders I would place in both chambers of Congress, as well as the auditorium used for joint sessions, are:
> "Government is not reason, it is not eloquence — it is force! Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action." - George Washington
> "The basis of our political systems is the right of the people to make and to alter their Constitutions of Government. But the Constitution which at any time exists, till changed by an explicit and authentic act of the whole people, is sacredly obligatory upon all." - George Washington
> “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely” - Lord Acton
> You are public servants, not public masters.
> "It would be a hard government that should tax its people one tenth part of their income." - Benjamin Franklin
> Read the Constitution! After all, you swore an oath to uphold it.
> "Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should do something." - American Proverb
> "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions." - H.G. Bohn
> "Secrecy is the beginning of tyranny." - Robert A. Heinlein
> "If we lose freedom here, there is no place to escape to. This is the last stand on Earth." - Ronald Reagan
> "A troubled and afflicted mankind looks to us, pleading for us to keep our rendezvous with destiny; that we will uphold the principles of self-reliance, self-discipline, morality, and, above all, responsible liberty for every individual that we will become that shining city on a hill." - Ronald Reagan
> You are no better than any other citizen of the United States.
> We the People are your bosses; you are not ours.
Just maybe these aphorisms will help to minimize the number of Congresspersons who give in to the pressure of special interest lobbyists.
Until next time, best regards...
© James P. Rice 2010
Not long ago, as I was watching some C-Span video clips of our Congress in action, I started looking at the chambers of both the House and the Senate and had the thought that it might be time for a little makeover. Don't get me wrong; I love the warmth and classic elegance of the dark woods and leather upholstery that hearken back to the late 18th and early 19th Centuries. I just think that, since our elected representatives are dealing with the issues facing America in the 21st Century, maybe they should be in 21st-century surroundings with access to 21st-century conveniences.
For example, replace the dark wood desks with something functional and sleek that includes integrated technology such as a universal docking station for a laptop computer and a charging pad for portable devices. I would also replace the old wooden lectern with one that has integrated teleprompters for scheduled speeches and presentations. I would also glass in the observation galleries so that the citizens of our great nation can come to watch and listen to their Congress in action, but not be able to disrupt the proceedings.
While we're at it, since the elected representatives are supposed to be representing their constituents and their states, I would rearrange the seating to ensure it is not separated along party lines. In the Senate, I suggest the use of paired "partners' desks" so that both Senators from each state would sit together, regardless of their chosen political faction. In the House, each Representative would have a separate desk, but it would be clustered in a "pod" with all the Representatives from that state. I would further emphasize that no state is more important than any other by randomly assigning the positioning of the states in the chamber at the start of each Congressional session, thereby avoiding the claiming of the "good seats" on the basis of seniority or party ranking.
Finally, I would love to see, evenly spaced around the room, wall panels engraved with aphorisms designed to keep Congress on track. They should be large enough and placed in such a way that every Senator and Representative would be able to see every panel from their seat, if they choose to look around. Some of the reminders I would place in both chambers of Congress, as well as the auditorium used for joint sessions, are:
> "Government is not reason, it is not eloquence — it is force! Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action." - George Washington
> "The basis of our political systems is the right of the people to make and to alter their Constitutions of Government. But the Constitution which at any time exists, till changed by an explicit and authentic act of the whole people, is sacredly obligatory upon all." - George Washington
> “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely” - Lord Acton
> You are public servants, not public masters.
> "It would be a hard government that should tax its people one tenth part of their income." - Benjamin Franklin
> Read the Constitution! After all, you swore an oath to uphold it.
> "Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should do something." - American Proverb
> "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions." - H.G. Bohn
> "Secrecy is the beginning of tyranny." - Robert A. Heinlein
> "If we lose freedom here, there is no place to escape to. This is the last stand on Earth." - Ronald Reagan
> "A troubled and afflicted mankind looks to us, pleading for us to keep our rendezvous with destiny; that we will uphold the principles of self-reliance, self-discipline, morality, and, above all, responsible liberty for every individual that we will become that shining city on a hill." - Ronald Reagan
> You are no better than any other citizen of the United States.
> We the People are your bosses; you are not ours.
Just maybe these aphorisms will help to minimize the number of Congresspersons who give in to the pressure of special interest lobbyists.
Until next time, best regards...
© James P. Rice 2010
25 March 2010
Healthcare in America: Affordability, pt 6
Good day, family and friends!
Today, we look at the ugliest of the three Cost Sisters...special interest legislation.
I call special interest legislation the ugliest of the three sisters because it is rooted in one of the most morally repugnant actions known to man...betrayal of trust. We the People elect individuals to represent us at all levels of government with the hope that they will do the right thing, protect our God-given Rights, and uphold the law of the land. Yet, time and time again, once they are in office they bend (if not break) the truth, sacrifice their principles, and sell out to the various lobbyists and special interest groups; all the while justifying their actions by declaring, "that's just the way the business of government works. You have to compromise in order to get things done down the road." I believe this to be a contemptible lie.
What does this have to do with the affordability of healthcare? Ask yourself these questions: if there are over 1300 insurance companies and underwriters in the United States offering healthcare coverage, then why in some states are the citizens' choices limited to as few as 4 of those companies? Why are corporations forced to offer different insurance options to their employees, based on the state in which they work? Why is it that a self-employed individual in Texas can get medical insurance for a family of 4 for less than $400 per month, while the same coverage in South Carolina costs over $1400? The answer...special interest groups and lobbyists.
Unfortunately, many of the states' legislatures have given in to the seduction of easy campaign donations and feel-good photo ops. They create laws and regulations that severely limit competition and provide a protected market to a handful of insurance companies. Because of this, the insurance companies in those states have no incentive to streamline their operations and improve their efficiency in order to reduce prices. Not only that, but in many of those cases, requests for rate hikes by the protected companies are given 'rubber stamp approval' by the very officials tasked with protecting the public from inequitable business practices.
One of the most egregious examples of this problem is the state of California. The citizens of California have been saddled with the highest medical insurance premiums in the United States, yet they are only allowed to choose from 4 carriers. At every opportunity, California's state legislature has overwhelmingly blocked attempts to introduce competition into the medical insurance industry.
Another blatant example of special interest protectionism and governmental control happened in New York. In 2008, Dr. John Muney started offering a new program to his patients: $79 per month for unlimited doctor's appointments. He believed that if he could reduce the mounds of paperwork created by health insurance, he could cut his costs and ensure that healthcare was within reach for everyone. It wasn't long before the New York State Insurance Department swooped down and told Dr. Muney that he had to stop offering his low-cost flat-fee program because it was a form of insurance and he was not licensed to sell insurance in the state of New York. It seems that, at least in the state of New York, the only way for a doctor to avoid the hassles of insurance is for that doctor to start his or her own insurance company.
Basically, while your political heroes line their pockets and solidify their power base, you end up paying more every year for medical insurance. They have betrayed the trust their constituents placed in them in favor of catering to special interest for their own personal benefit.
Next time, I summarize the problems I've identified in this series and start looking at the solution.
Until then, best regards...
© James P. Rice 2010
Today, we look at the ugliest of the three Cost Sisters...special interest legislation.
I call special interest legislation the ugliest of the three sisters because it is rooted in one of the most morally repugnant actions known to man...betrayal of trust. We the People elect individuals to represent us at all levels of government with the hope that they will do the right thing, protect our God-given Rights, and uphold the law of the land. Yet, time and time again, once they are in office they bend (if not break) the truth, sacrifice their principles, and sell out to the various lobbyists and special interest groups; all the while justifying their actions by declaring, "that's just the way the business of government works. You have to compromise in order to get things done down the road." I believe this to be a contemptible lie.
What does this have to do with the affordability of healthcare? Ask yourself these questions: if there are over 1300 insurance companies and underwriters in the United States offering healthcare coverage, then why in some states are the citizens' choices limited to as few as 4 of those companies? Why are corporations forced to offer different insurance options to their employees, based on the state in which they work? Why is it that a self-employed individual in Texas can get medical insurance for a family of 4 for less than $400 per month, while the same coverage in South Carolina costs over $1400? The answer...special interest groups and lobbyists.
Unfortunately, many of the states' legislatures have given in to the seduction of easy campaign donations and feel-good photo ops. They create laws and regulations that severely limit competition and provide a protected market to a handful of insurance companies. Because of this, the insurance companies in those states have no incentive to streamline their operations and improve their efficiency in order to reduce prices. Not only that, but in many of those cases, requests for rate hikes by the protected companies are given 'rubber stamp approval' by the very officials tasked with protecting the public from inequitable business practices.
One of the most egregious examples of this problem is the state of California. The citizens of California have been saddled with the highest medical insurance premiums in the United States, yet they are only allowed to choose from 4 carriers. At every opportunity, California's state legislature has overwhelmingly blocked attempts to introduce competition into the medical insurance industry.
Another blatant example of special interest protectionism and governmental control happened in New York. In 2008, Dr. John Muney started offering a new program to his patients: $79 per month for unlimited doctor's appointments. He believed that if he could reduce the mounds of paperwork created by health insurance, he could cut his costs and ensure that healthcare was within reach for everyone. It wasn't long before the New York State Insurance Department swooped down and told Dr. Muney that he had to stop offering his low-cost flat-fee program because it was a form of insurance and he was not licensed to sell insurance in the state of New York. It seems that, at least in the state of New York, the only way for a doctor to avoid the hassles of insurance is for that doctor to start his or her own insurance company.
Basically, while your political heroes line their pockets and solidify their power base, you end up paying more every year for medical insurance. They have betrayed the trust their constituents placed in them in favor of catering to special interest for their own personal benefit.
Next time, I summarize the problems I've identified in this series and start looking at the solution.
Until then, best regards...
© James P. Rice 2010
22 March 2010
Healthcare in America: Affordability, pt 5
Good day, family and friends!
Sorry about the delay in posting this installment. Real Life can be a real grizzly bear.
Now, let's continue our look at the costs associated with litigation, insurance fraud, and special interest legislation....
Ambulance-chasing weasels aren't the only thing negatively impacting healthcare costs. Insurance fraud being perpetrated by both, larcenous patients and unscrupulous doctors, is a major problem in the 21st Century. The FBI estimates that fraudulent billings make up between 3% and 10% of total healthcare expenditures every year. In 2007, for example, total healthcare expenditures in the U.S. were $2.26 trillion. If the FBI's best case is true, that means that in 2007, U.S. healthcare insurance providers were ripped off for nearly $68 billion. At worst, it was $226 billion. This loss is automatically passed on to the consumer in the form of higher premiums.
But the problem is only growing. Last year, the Government Accountability Office (formerly known as the General Accounting Office) stated that they have been unable to definitively identify the scope of the fraud and systemic abuse being perpetrated within the Medicaid/Medicare system. Their best case guess is that, in 2008 alone, taxpayers were robbed of a minimum of $69 billion by people intentionally defrauding the system. This is an increase of over 200% from only the year before. The FBI estimates that this will only get worse as people live longer and make more demands on the Medicare system. And this doesn't include the honest mistakes made every year by tens of thousands of Medicaid/Medicare recipients overwhelmed by the complexity of the bureaucratic maze they have to negotiate just to see a primary care physician.
These increasingly sophisticated ways of 'gaming the system' have created a layer of bureaucracy within many insurance companies that have evolved into something resembling systemic abuse in its own right. I'm speaking of what are sometimes called 'Benefits Coverage Panels'. These are the panels or committees employed by the insurance companies to review the diagnoses and treatments doctors propose for their patients covered by that insurer. In order to protect their slim profit margins, some insurance companies now have accountants and bureaucrats (who were never physicians themselves) reviewing medical cases and second-guessing experienced physicians, often denying treatment because, in their humble opinion as a bean-counter or paper-pusher, the treatment wasn't necessary. These coverage panels are just another unnecessary expense adding to the cost of healthcare insurance.
Next time, the impact your political heroes have on the cost of your healthcare coverage.
Until then, best regards...
© James P. Rice 2010
Sorry about the delay in posting this installment. Real Life can be a real grizzly bear.
Now, let's continue our look at the costs associated with litigation, insurance fraud, and special interest legislation....
Ambulance-chasing weasels aren't the only thing negatively impacting healthcare costs. Insurance fraud being perpetrated by both, larcenous patients and unscrupulous doctors, is a major problem in the 21st Century. The FBI estimates that fraudulent billings make up between 3% and 10% of total healthcare expenditures every year. In 2007, for example, total healthcare expenditures in the U.S. were $2.26 trillion. If the FBI's best case is true, that means that in 2007, U.S. healthcare insurance providers were ripped off for nearly $68 billion. At worst, it was $226 billion. This loss is automatically passed on to the consumer in the form of higher premiums.
But the problem is only growing. Last year, the Government Accountability Office (formerly known as the General Accounting Office) stated that they have been unable to definitively identify the scope of the fraud and systemic abuse being perpetrated within the Medicaid/Medicare system. Their best case guess is that, in 2008 alone, taxpayers were robbed of a minimum of $69 billion by people intentionally defrauding the system. This is an increase of over 200% from only the year before. The FBI estimates that this will only get worse as people live longer and make more demands on the Medicare system. And this doesn't include the honest mistakes made every year by tens of thousands of Medicaid/Medicare recipients overwhelmed by the complexity of the bureaucratic maze they have to negotiate just to see a primary care physician.
These increasingly sophisticated ways of 'gaming the system' have created a layer of bureaucracy within many insurance companies that have evolved into something resembling systemic abuse in its own right. I'm speaking of what are sometimes called 'Benefits Coverage Panels'. These are the panels or committees employed by the insurance companies to review the diagnoses and treatments doctors propose for their patients covered by that insurer. In order to protect their slim profit margins, some insurance companies now have accountants and bureaucrats (who were never physicians themselves) reviewing medical cases and second-guessing experienced physicians, often denying treatment because, in their humble opinion as a bean-counter or paper-pusher, the treatment wasn't necessary. These coverage panels are just another unnecessary expense adding to the cost of healthcare insurance.
Next time, the impact your political heroes have on the cost of your healthcare coverage.
Until then, best regards...
© James P. Rice 2010
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