The only news I watch on a regular basis is local/regional news. Even then, I don't take them as the final word on something.
I've watched and read enough to know that ObamaCare is a "Bad Thing" and should not be regarded as anything else.
That isn't to say I'm not for health care reform, but price controls on insurance premiums is not that fix. The health care industry is over-regulated and has been given extremely pricey mandates that have not shown any benefit to patient care (such as mandatory, 100% e-records). Those sorts of things are what is driving up the price of health care as hospitals have to put more and more money into IT infrastructure. That means less money for everything else that they should be doing (such as attempting to heal people of their ills).
The only thing I'm going to respond to (because I don't have the time for all your other points right now) is that about Fox News.
I actually don't watch it at all. I don't watch CNN or it's ilk either. I get my news from whatever source is presented to me on any particular issue (and if I'm presented with several sources, I tend to look at them all).
Really? The clause has no exceptions what-so-ever anywhere in the Constitution. It is also very clear.
The question of "sole executive agreement" is pretty much the same as "executive order". Where does it exist in the Constitution? It is neither implied nor can be inferred by it or the 27 current amendments.
Also, you insensitive clod, Lisa Renee was the name of a good friend of mine who died from Leukemia. While I get your reference, next time don't use names like that.
Yes, it was, and of the opposite sex to boot. Not trying to brag or anything, but just wanting to let others know that/. and sex aren't mutually exclusive.
Granted I was a bone-head last night and will probably never know a woman ever again.
The government is the best entity to regulate or directly run these services in order to prevent abuses from occurring in these industries (examples: transportation, healthcare, "last-mile" telecoms, and other utilities).
Canadians are taxed on their income for healthcare at a tune of anywhere from 40% to 60%, yet they still have waiting lists - even for necessary surgery.
France's health care system (lauded as the best in the world) is continually going into the red to the tune of 2 billion a year.
The UK's health care (to go on the word of a friend living in the UK and what I've seen in the news) is the worst in the world in terms of being efficient providers of the service.
I can't speak for Germany because I'm so disgusted about many of their other "good" policies that I haven't bothered to look at their health care.
Yes, the US needs health care reform desperately. The bill that was passed was not the answer, though.
Sorry you are insulted, but the government is not more efficient than private industry. Never has been, never will be.
Also, cite your sources. Specious claims like the above without any source material to back it up are just plain silly.
I can claim that government employees make more money than their private-sector counterparts doing the same or similar job, but unless I can back up that claim (CATO Tax and Budget Bulletin, issue number 59 (74KB PDF)), it's a ridiculous claim.
I think they screw up on purpose just to ask for more money.
"Hey Bob, we need to screw up so we can ask for more money, think you can figure something out for us?"
*one GAO audit later*
"Great job Bob, now we're sure to get that budget increase!"
I think bureaucracies follow the following formula:
1. Claim to be important (e.g. Defending the Children/Environment/Criminals) 2. Claim to have a legitimate program that is related to point 1. 3. Screw up majorly 4. ??? 5. PROFIT!
Slashdot Mirror
The only news I watch on a regular basis is local/regional news. Even then, I don't take them as the final word on something.
I've watched and read enough to know that ObamaCare is a "Bad Thing" and should not be regarded as anything else.
That isn't to say I'm not for health care reform, but price controls on insurance premiums is not that fix. The health care industry is over-regulated and has been given extremely pricey mandates that have not shown any benefit to patient care (such as mandatory, 100% e-records). Those sorts of things are what is driving up the price of health care as hospitals have to put more and more money into IT infrastructure. That means less money for everything else that they should be doing (such as attempting to heal people of their ills).
The only thing I'm going to respond to (because I don't have the time for all your other points right now) is that about Fox News.
I actually don't watch it at all. I don't watch CNN or it's ilk either. I get my news from whatever source is presented to me on any particular issue (and if I'm presented with several sources, I tend to look at them all).
5 posts before health care was mentioned. BTW, disagree with both your reasoning for regulation of utilities and your sig.
While utilities are privately owned, they are still the most heavily regulated businesses in the country.
I do agree blaming the government in this case is a straw man.
Agreed on both points.
And the lawsuit goes to...h.264!
I know it has nothing to do with democracy (which is rule of the masses, which is what we don't have or want).
Also, I'd agrue that Saudi Arabia is a monarchical theocracy.
Wish you hadn't posted as AC. I'd like to friend you.
Actually, in name we are
The Federal Republic of the United States of America.
But yes, in practice we are not, quite unfortunately.
Really? The clause has no exceptions what-so-ever anywhere in the Constitution. It is also very clear.
The question of "sole executive agreement" is pretty much the same as "executive order". Where does it exist in the Constitution? It is neither implied nor can be inferred by it or the 27 current amendments.
No, those were numbers given to me by an article I read in the CBC, but it's been years ago and I can't seem to pull it up on search results.
Before and during my membership to /.
Good for me than that I don't count them.
Also, you insensitive clod, Lisa Renee was the name of a good friend of mine who died from Leukemia. While I get your reference, next time don't use names like that.
Since I can't find my source (an article on CBC), I'll concede the point on taxes.
True enough, you would think.
I needed the plugin because certain aspects of SVG weren't fully supported (such as the inclusing of text), at least in FF3.5.
If it had been with my hand I would not have said anything.
Yes, it was, and of the opposite sex to boot. Not trying to brag or anything, but just wanting to let others know that /. and sex aren't mutually exclusive.
Granted I was a bone-head last night and will probably never know a woman ever again.
Which part? The amount taxed or waiting lists?
I've done the research and I have the documents to prove there are waiting lists.
To get the plugin?
Canadians are taxed on their income for healthcare at a tune of anywhere from 40% to 60%, yet they still have waiting lists - even for necessary surgery.
France's health care system (lauded as the best in the world) is continually going into the red to the tune of 2 billion a year.
The UK's health care (to go on the word of a friend living in the UK and what I've seen in the news) is the worst in the world in terms of being efficient providers of the service.
I can't speak for Germany because I'm so disgusted about many of their other "good" policies that I haven't bothered to look at their health care.
Yes, the US needs health care reform desperately. The bill that was passed was not the answer, though.
Hey, you insensitive clod, I'm a /.er that has had sex!
Sorry you are insulted, but the government is not more efficient than private industry. Never has been, never will be.
Also, cite your sources. Specious claims like the above without any source material to back it up are just plain silly.
I can claim that government employees make more money than their private-sector counterparts doing the same or similar job, but unless I can back up that claim (CATO Tax and Budget Bulletin, issue number 59 (74KB PDF)), it's a ridiculous claim.
I think they screw up on purpose just to ask for more money.
"Hey Bob, we need to screw up so we can ask for more money, think you can figure something out for us?"
*one GAO audit later*
"Great job Bob, now we're sure to get that budget increase!"
I think bureaucracies follow the following formula:
1. Claim to be important (e.g. Defending the Children/Environment/Criminals)
2. Claim to have a legitimate program that is related to point 1.
3. Screw up majorly
4. ???
5. PROFIT!
lol
I'd actually like to grow my own hot peppers and try my hand at hybridization.
I love hot stuff and regularly make my food spicy because I love the flavor.