Saturday, November 30, 2013
"5 Things to Never Keep in Your Wallet"
Perhaps this info is useful to you...
At WiseBread.com, Tisha Tolar posted about her experience and more:
"So I am here to confess publicly my disregard for my own advice about wallet safety and add some additional tips about what to remove from your wallet to help avoid financial ruin."
Friday, November 29, 2013
"School districts burdened by costs to bus students to charter and private schools"
There the cost of education AND the cost of busing.
I bet most taxpayers don't know about this...
I bet most taxpayers don't know about this...
In the Allentown Morning Call, Margie Peterson writes about the situation:
"Salisbury Township School District consists of two elementary schools, a middle school and a high school. But it buses students to 46 schools.
Parkland School District has 11 schools of its own and transports children to 56 schools. That number has grown by 11 schools in the last 18 months.
By Pennsylvania law, public school districts that bus their own students are required to transport students to charter and private schools that are up to 10 miles outside of a district's borders."
Thursday, November 28, 2013
2013-11-28 - Thanksgiving Day
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
"How Hollywood animals are repeatedly harmed in movie and TV production"
Here's a person who was assigned to monitor the treatment of animals.
Sadly, that person became compromised...
On the U.K. Daily Mail website, Ryan Gorman has the story about this:
"The tiger star in Life Of Pi almost drowned to death during filming, it was covered up by an overseer sleeping with a movie exec tied to the film
Dozens of marine animals washed ashore during the filming of Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl
More than two dozen animals died during a hiatus in filming for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
All films received American Humane Association approval"
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
"As It Turns Out, It Does Make a Difference"
Doug Mainwaring recently wrote about this on the American Thinker website:
"Because the sample base for the Allen study was extremely large, data for gay and lesbian couple households could be examined separately. The research is revealing, offering new insights. Among them, children of gay parents are estimated to be 69% as likely to graduate compared to children from opposite-sex married homes. Children in lesbian households are 60% as likely to graduate from high school.
Perhaps most startling are the findings regarding the gender of the children and their graduation outcomes, which vary wildly based on whether they were raised in gay vs. lesbian households. Daughters raised by gay men are only 15% as likely to graduate, while daughters of lesbian parents are 45% as likely to graduate. Interestingly, sons of lesbian parents are 76% as likely to graduate, while boys raised by gay men are 61% more likely to graduate than those raised by lesbians."
"Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich is Racist, Says Portland School Official"
AT theCollegeFix.com, Nathan Harden reported on this:
"Did you know that eating or even talking about a peanut butter and jelly sandwich could be considered racist? That’s right. Apparently, it’s because people in some cultures don’t eat sandwich bread. Verenice Gutierrez, principal of Harvey Scott K-8 School in Portland explained to the Portland Tribune"
Monday, November 25, 2013
"Global warming 'pause' may last for 20 more years..."
To the dismay of it's proponents, their predictions are proving inaccurate.
For the opponents, current real world observations justify their skepticism...
David Rose recently reported this in the U.K. Daily Mail:
"The 17-year pause in global warming is likely to last into the 2030s and the Arctic sea ice has already started to recover, according to new research. A paper in the peer-reviewed journal Climate Dynamics – by Professor Judith Curry of the Georgia Institute of Technology and Dr Marcia Wyatt – amounts to a stunning challenge to climate science orthodoxy.
Not only does it explain the unexpected pause, it suggests that the scientific majority – whose views are represented by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) – have underestimated the role of natural cycles and exaggerated that of greenhouse gases."
"LVH doctor: 'Disturbing' injuries from Tough Mudder event led to journal article"
ANd you might have thought sky-diving is risky...
In the Allentown PA Morning Call, Tim Darragh recently reported on this:
"More than three dozen people were taken to the emergency department at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest in June after a weekend of Tough Mudder runs, the paper says. Doctors saw patients with electrical burns, broken legs, dislocations, mental disorientation and more."
Sunday, November 24, 2013
2013-11-24 - Words of Wisdom
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Cash for Clunkers a near-total failure says … the Brookings Institute
Government at work again, with the usual lack of success...
On the HotAir.com website, Steve Eggleston begins with this:
"With all the stories about the massive failure that is Obamacare, especially the exchanges, that are finally out and about, it is easy to forget the earlier policy and fiscal failures of the Obama administration. Fortunately, the Brookings Institute didn’t forget about the 'Cash for Clunkers' program. In a report released last week, they found that the $2.85 billion, 2-month program essentially merely time-shifted the purchase of new vehicles forward a few months"
"BERLIN: U.S. popularity in Germany on a steep decline in wake of spy scandal"
Just about everywhere...
Matthew Schofield provides the story behind this at McClatchyDC.com:
"And, meanwhile, President Barack Obama’s star appears to have morphed into a red dwarf here. In April 2010, a whooping 88 percent said they liked his politics. This week, that number had been cut in half, down to 43 percent. "
Friday, November 22, 2013
Census ‘faked’ 2012 election jobs report | New York Post
This likely had an influence on the election.
It is very scary...
It is very scary...
The New York Post's John Crudele has the story:
"In the home stretch of the 2012 presidential campaign, from August to September, the unemployment rate fell sharply — raising eyebrows from Wall Street to Washington. The decline — from 8.1 percent in August to 7.8 percent in September — might not have been all it seemed. The numbers, according to a reliable source, were manipulated. And the Census Bureau, which does the unemployment survey, knew it."
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Mr. President, Tear Down This Website
At this time, using the HealthCare.gov website looks very shaky...
Posting at Breitbart.com, Representative Lamar Smith (R_TX) wants us all to know this:
"One of our witnesses, David Kennedy, is a 'white hat hacker,' who is hired by companies around the world to test the security of their online systems by essentially hacking their websites. During the hearing, Mr. Kennedy gave a demonstration of the healthcare.gov website’s vulnerabilities showing in real-time that hackers can access personal information on the website. It’s clear that not only is the website vulnerable, it’s under attack.
When asked whether he believed the website had already been compromised by hackers, Mr. Kennedy testified that he believed the website has either already been hacked or soon will be.
The massive amount of personal information collected by the Healthcare.gov website creates a tempting target for scam artists. Identity theft jeopardizes credit ratings and personal finances."
"Obama building ‘compliant officer class’"
I wonder what's really going on here...
At WND.com, F. Michael Maloof has been reporting on this:
"WASHINGTON – The extraordinarily large number of senior military officials being relieved of duty under the Obama administration – nine generals and flag officers this year alone and close to 200 senior officers over the last five years – is part of the creation of a 'compliant officer class,' according to a U.S. Army intelligence official.
In WND’s ongoing coverage of what some top generals are openly calling a 'purge' of senior military officers who run afoul of Obama or his agenda, some military personnel have been speaking out.
According to a veteran Army intelligence official who spoke to WND on condition of anonymity, there is within the armed forces a major concern that a 'compliant officer class' is being created by the Obama administration. So much so, he said, that it’s becoming harder to find 'senior officers with a pair of balls in there [the military] now that would say no to anything.'"
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
"Hearing: Security Flaws in Obamacare Website Endanger Americans"
Oh my.
The Obamacare website, according to the experts...
The Obamacare website, according to the experts...
At FreeBeacon.com, Elizabeth Harrington reports what we need to know:
"The experts said the personal information of millions of Americans is at risk, including Social Security numbers, birthdays, incomes, home mortgages, and addresses. Rep. Mo Brooks (R., Ala.) called it the 'mother lode for identity theft.' 'Americans should be scared to death,' said Rep. Chris Stewart (R., Utah).
Kennedy demonstrated an attack in the hearing room, showing how on Finder.Healthcare.gov a hacker could breach into a computer, monitor its webcam, and steal passwords."
"An Open Letter to Oprah (Of Barack and Barry)"
On his website, Kevin Jackson offers a thorough response, beginning with:
"No, Oprah. In all sincerity I disrespect Obama for the same reason I disrespect you… because he is not worthy of respect.
Hard as it is to believe, in some circles of this great and glorious land we call 'America,' there are people who think for themselves. These are those who don’t wait for some overpaid, egocentric talk-show host to tell them what to believe, what to think, or how to vote. They are the countless millions who expect others to take responsibility for themselves and their own families."
"Has Matt Damon eaten his shoe yet over his ‘never been in a public school’ claim about the Bush family?"
Actually, they are usually uninformed or misinformed...
On her website, Michelle Malkin takes the time to expose Matt Damon:
"(CNN's Jake)Tapper asked Damon about Jeb Bush calling out his opposition to school choice while sending his kids to private schools, and Damon said 'I’d eat my shoe if he [Jeb Bush] could name a Bush that ever even walked into a public school.' Prepare to start chomping on those loafers, Matt: "
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
"Businesses cut full-time workers to meet Obamacare mandate, study says"
The President and his representatives continue to deny this; BUT, this survey shows that their denials are not accurate.
Is that any surprise?...
Is that any surprise?...
The Christian Science Monitor's Mary Trumbull reports on this:
"First, President Obama had to backtrack from his promise that if you like your health insurance plan, under Obamacare 'you can keep it.' Now, a new study is suggesting that, under Obamacare, 'If you like your workweek, you can’t necessarily keep it, either.'
About 30 percent of small franchises and 12 percent of other small businesses say they are cutting work hours – or swapping full-time for part-time workers – because of the law, according to a poll sponsored by business groups.
The moves are part of a bid to control health-care expenses, and they are a sign of how the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which was designed to greatly expand the number of Americans who have health insurance, could be having some unintended consequences in the job market."
Senate GOP: Did WH cook UN global warming report? | The Daily Caller
At DailyCaller.com, Michael Bastasch reports on this:
"Senate Republicans are questioning the Obama administration about reports that U.S. officials tried to suppress the 15-year global warming hiatus in the United Nations’ climate report. The Associated Press reported in September that the Obama administration, along with several European nations, lobbied the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to omit or downplay data showing that global warming stopped in 1998."
Monday, November 18, 2013
Pennsylvania Town Clings to Its Guns, Ousts Mayor | RealClearPolitics
Salena Zito reports at RealClearPolitics.com. She begins:
"Know your constituency. It's the first rule of local politics."
"Fox News: The Most Trusted Name in Health Care News?"
Interesting, to say the least.
Not to mention the other news media's results...
Not to mention the other news media's results...
At YouGov.com, Peter Moore has some interesting survey results:
"The latest research from YouGov shows that when Americans are asked to pick the one source of information about the new health care law that they trust the most, Fox News Channel (also known as Fox News) tops the list. Most trusted by 19% of Americans, the basic cable news channel narrowly beats out 'friends and family' (17%).
President Obama (11%) is the third most trusted source, followed by National Public Radio (10%) and people's own insurance companies (9%). "
Sunday, November 17, 2013
2013-11-17 - Words of Wisdom
Saturday, November 16, 2013
"Onwards and Upwards"
Quite impressive...
In the U.K. Daily Mail, Ted Thornhill has the story and some great pictures:
"The Kingdom Tower in Saudi Arabia will be one kilometre tall - or 3,281 feet
'Sky City' in China will become the second tallest building at 2,749 feet
The current record holder is the Khalifa Burj in Dubai, at 2,716 feet"
Friday, November 15, 2013
Obama’s Big Lie is destroying his credibility | New York Post
I think this horse left the barn long ago...
Michael Goodwin writing in the New York Post:
"From the economy to health care to foreign policy, voters were mostly negative on the policies. But when it came to Obama himself, more Americans, often a majority, said they liked him, trusted him and believed he had their interests at heart.
ObamaCare is breaking that bond — and creating a domino effect. The public is turning ever harder against his policies, with only 31 percent now supporting him on the economy and 32 percent on immigration in the latest Pew poll.
Most important, they are also giving a thumbs-down on his overall performance. Pew finds that only 41 percent approve of his handling of the presidency, down 14 points since December, while 53 percent disapprove. And Quinnipiac late Tuesday found he’s hit a new low with 39 percent approval, while a majority said he’s not honest."
"'In January, the only thing left will be the goat':..."
In short, the European Union policies on movement between countries will be relaxed in January.
As a result, people are likely to move to countries with the best or most "freebies"...
In the U.K. Daily Mail, Louise Eccles has this related story:
"The mayor of two Romanian villages has claimed that up to half of their residents will move to the UK when restrictions are lifted in January. Koller Gabriel-Adrian said he believed ‘50 per cent’ of the 1,100 people in poverty-stricken Berini and Uliuc could travel to Britain in search of higher salaries – and the generous welfare system – in the New Year. Many have already moved to France, Italy and Spain, but the mayor said the UK would soon become a more attractive destination, with ‘better conditions’, when the borders are relaxed."
Thursday, November 14, 2013
"GOP erases 9-point deficit in generic congressional ballot"
This is a significant swing.
Apparently, Americans ARE noticing things...
Apparently, Americans ARE noticing things...
On the Washington Times website, David Sherfinski reports polling numbers:
"In just six weeks, Republicans have completely erased a 9-point deficit in a generic congressional ballot question and are now running even with Democrats.
Thirty-nine percent of registered voters say they would vote for a Democrat in their district — and the same percentage say they would vote for a Republican — if elections for the U.S. House of Representatives were held today, according to numbers from a Quinnipiac poll released Wednesday.
Last month, Democrats had held a nine-point advantage on the same question, 43 percent to 34 percent.
Independent voters favored Democrats in October, 32 percent to 30 percent, but now favor Republicans by a 37 percent to 26 percent margin."
Obama the Loner: ... - Vanity Fair
All presidents have a personality.
Some personalities are more likely to be able to get things done without force...
Some personalities are more likely to be able to get things done without force...
Vanity Fair's Todd S. Purdum writes about Mr. Obama:
"When Barack Obama arrived in Washington almost five years ago, the universal assumption was that the young president—who had, after all, won office by exploiting every connective tool of the national social and electoral network—would run his White House in sharp contrast to the bunkered, hunkered-down George W. Bush.
Like so much conventional wisdom, that impression has proved dead wrong. In fact, Obama’s resolute solitude—his isolation and alienation from the other players and power centers of Washington, be they rivals or friends—has emerged as the defining trait of his time in office."
The Truth about Navigators - National Review Online
I wonder if the so-called main stream media will report it?...
At NationalReview.com John Fund elaborates on this story:
"This time, his undercover investigators focused on Obamacare’s 'navigators,' the nearly 50,000 people who, in the words of the Department of Health and Human Services, “will serve as an in-person resource for Americans who want additional assistance in shopping for and enrolling in plans” on the Obamacare exchanges (at least when they’re finally working). The total value of grants doled out for nonprofits and community organizations to hire navigators has topped $67 million nationwide, and some of the money is going to a group run by ACORN’s highly controversial founder.
The events of O’Keefe’s video of a Texas navigator site run by the National Urban League are a familiar sight to viewers of his past efforts exposing Medicaid and voter fraud. Government-paid workers supposedly trained to uphold the law advise clients on how to lie on government forms, evade legal requirements, and ignore proper procedures."
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Obamacare Will Be Repealed Well In Advance Of The 2014 Elections - Forbes
NOT being able to keep your doctor and NOT being able to choose your health insurer is clearly a game-breaker...
At Forbes.com, Steven Hayward is making this prediction and explains why in his recent column:
"Prediction: even if HealthCare.gov is fixed by the end of the month (unlikely), Obamacare is going to be repealed well in advance of next year’s election. And if the website continues to fail, the push for repeal—from endangered Democrats—will occur very rapidly. The website is a sideshow: the real action is the number of people and businesses who are losing their health plans or having to pay a lot more. Fixing the website will only delay the inevitable."
"Exclusive: After Westgate, Interpol Chief Ponders 'Armed Citizenry'"
If you believe citizens should be able to carry a gun, you may have the world's police chief on your side...
On the ABnews website, Josh Margolin elaborates on this:
" In an exclusive interview with ABC News, Noble said there are really only two choices for protecting open societies from attacks like the one on Westgate mall where so-called 'soft targets' are hit: either create secure perimeters around the locations or allow civilians to carry their own guns to protect themselves. 'Societies have to think about how they're going to approach the problem,' Noble said."
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
"Hiring of homosexual empoyees being considered by Ky. Baptist child care agency
It's unlawful to discriminate.
That being said, it's discomforting to mix children with homosexuality...
That being said, it's discomforting to mix children with homosexuality...
David Roach reports on this on the Baptist Press website:
"The president of the Kentucky Baptist Convention's children's services agency has recommended that the organization amend its hiring practices to ban discrimination against homosexuals, according to a PowerPoint presentation posted on the agency's website.
'I would rather homosexuals see the love of God through us than be denied employment by us,' Bill Smithwick, president of Sunrise Children's Services, said in an Aug. 16 PowerPoint presentation to the agency's trustees. 'I would rather see the ministry continue to help kids and share the Gospel than close.'"
"France’s comedy of taxational errors continues as French revolt against eco-tax"
Apparently, France's prime minister likes higher taxes on everything...
Erika Johnsen has the story on the HotAir.com website:
"Seeing as how they elected an honest-to-goodness Socialist parliamentary majority and president last year, I’m not exactly sure what it is that France thought they were in for — but these days, it isn’t merely French soccer teams publicly displaying their displeasure with the ultra-high tax policies of Francois Hollande and his ministers. Hollande is deeply, historically unpopular, and the government needs still more cash in their coffers to have any hope of meeting their deficit-reduction targets — but the new taxes they’ve been cooking up recently combined with other scheduled tax increases are not going over well."
Monday, November 11, 2013
2013-11-11 - Veterans Day
The U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs begins it's description of Veterans Day with this. It has changed somewhat over the years:
"World War I – known at the time as 'The Great War' - officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of 'the war to end all wars'.
In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: 'To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…'
The original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m."
Sunday, November 10, 2013
2013-11-10 - Words of Wisdom
Saturday, November 09, 2013
Congress Live By Your Laws - Join Senator David Vitter and Citizens United
The link takes you to the briefest of signup forms...
Citizens United is asking you to participate in this:
"United States Senator David Vitter (R-LA) and Citizens United are rallying Americans in every city, town, and state around this common sense idea! Join Senator Vitter and Citizens United in demanding that Members of Congress not exempt themselves from Obamacare - the law they forced on the rest of us! Tell Washington to live by their laws!"
How ObamaCare Rips Off the 'Young Healthies' - WSJ.com
The "political" concept of most things cannot withstand the logic of a knowledgeable view...
In the Wall Street Journal, Carl Schramm delivers a heavy hit on the idea of health insurance for young people. He begins:
"When ObamaCare is under attack, its defenders retreat to several well-worn claims. Among them is a provision that compels insurance companies to allow parents to keep their 'children' ages of 21 to 26 on their family policies.
Yet this part of the Affordable Care Act was not engineered in response to any noticeable interest group. Instead, political considerations are responsible for the provision—which is an unnecessary and a deceptive ripoff of the 'young healthies.'"
Friday, November 08, 2013
I'm Sorry, Too, Mr. President - NationalJournal.com
The President allowed politics to override the basic tenet "Do No Harm".
It's just plain unacceptable...
Ron Fournier writes this and more at NationalJournal.com:
"I'm sorry, too, Mr. President. I'm sorry you couldn't finesse a single Republican vote for health insurance reform in 2010.
I'm sorry Republicans decided to re-litigate the law rather than help implement it, offering no serious alternative of their own for the nearly 50 million uninsured Americans.
I'm sorry you campaigned for reelection on the famous false promise: 'If you like your health care plan, you'll be able to keep your health care plan. Period.'
I'm sorry your aides debated whether to tell the full truth (that people could keep their insurance only if it hadn't changed and if it met your standards) and decided instead to institutionalize the lie.
I'm sorry that when Americans recognized the deception you tried to reinvent history: 'What we said was you can keep it if it hasn't changed since the law passed.' No, no, no, no, no—that's not what you guys said.
I'm sorry you didn't trust Americans with the truth."
"Colorado voters slap down Bloomberg-backed income-tax hike"
Apparently, the voters in Colorado are pretty independent...
At WashingtonTimes.com, Valerie Richardson reports on the recent election issues and the results:
"Senate Minority Leader Bill Cadman released a statement Wednesday calling Amendment 66 'another example of the countless extreme liberal policies being promoted and funded in Colorado by out-of-state billionaires.'
Referring to both Mr. Bloomberg and Microsoft founder Bill Gates, who chipped in another $1 million to the tax-hike campaign, Mr. Cadman added that he hoped the next legislative session would reflect 'the will of the people — I mean those who actually live here.'
Colorado has become an irresistible testing ground for out-of-state political players promoting their issues because of the state’s small size, purple-state credentials and relatively inexpensive media markets. The population is just 5 million, and the Denver media market is ranked 17th in the nation and Colorado Springs-Pueblo is ranked 90th.
What Mr. Bloomberg’s recent misadventures show is that money can’t always buy votes, analysts say."
"Surveillance Video Captures Flash Mob Robberies At 3 Chicago Area Stores"
A sign of the times.
Please notice the media failure to report any aspects of the culprits characteristics...
Please notice the media failure to report any aspects of the culprits characteristics...
Brad Edwards reported this on the CBS Chicago website:
"CHICAGO (CBS) — Unbelievable surveillance video captured flash mobs dashing into store after store and running out with armloads and sometimes entire racks of sporting goods.
It has happened at three different Sports Authority stores in the Chicago area."
Thursday, November 07, 2013
Does Environmentalism Cause Amnesia? - WSJ.com
Unfortunately, in today's world, history doesn't seem to be very important.
Is it any wonder that we often repeat mistakes of the past?...
Is it any wonder that we often repeat mistakes of the past?...
In the World Street Journal, Bret Stephens includes this in his recent article:
"'With or without adaptation,' the report warns, 'climate change will reduce median yields by 0 to 2% per decade for the rest of the century, as compared to a baseline without climate change. These projected impacts will occur in the context of rising crop demand, projected to increase by 14% per decade until 2050.'
If this has a familiar ring, it's because it harks back to the neo-Malthusian forecasts of the 1960s and '70s, when we were supposed to believe that population growth would outstrip food production. This gave us such titles as 'Famine 1975!', a 1967 best seller by the brothers William and Paul Paddock, along with Paul Ehrlich's vastly influential 'The Population Bomb,' a book that began with the words, "The battle to feed all of humanity is over. In the 1970s and 1980s hundreds of millions of people will starve to death in spite of any crash programs embarked upon now."
In case you're wondering what happened with that battle to feed humanity, the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization has some useful figures on its website. In 1968, the year Mr. Ehrlich's book first appeared, Asia produced 46,321,114 tons of maize and 439,579,934 of cereals. By 2011, the respective figures had risen to 270,316,205, up 484%, and 1,289,633,254, up 193%."
Sebelius admits: 'It is possible' that FELONS could become Obamacare workers and access taxpayers' personal information
This has a really bad smell to it...
On the U.K. Daily Mail website, David Martosko reports this. Skeptical me wonders if the U.S. media will even notice:
"'Isn't it true that there is no federal requirement for navigators to undergo a criminal background check,' Cornyn asked her, 'even though they will receive personal – sensitive personal information from they individuals they help sign up for the Affordable Care Act?' 'That is true,' Sebelius responded in a moment of nervousness. 'States could add an additional – um – background checks and other features, but it is not part of the federal requirement.' 'So a convicted felon could be a navigator,' an annoyed Cornyn followed up, 'and could acquire sensitive personal information from an individual, unbeknownst to them?' 'Uh, that is possible,' she said, shifting blame to the groups responsible for deploying navigators in the field."
Wednesday, November 06, 2013
"Your share of the national debt is now $1.1 million"
Even though this number seems far away from us, it is an indication of what's been going on...
Merrill Matthews reports this on the "Rare" website:
"The public tends to focus on the total national debt, which just passed the $17 trillion mark—up from $10.6 trillion when President Obama took office. But that figure pales in comparison to the federal government’s long term unfunded liabilities—money the government is obligated to pay over and above the revenues it is estimated to receive.
According to the U.S. Debt Clock, total long term unfunded liabilities are at $126 trillion, a $1.1 million liability for each U.S. taxpayer."
"Pleading the Fifth: Official Won't Answer Questions About Making Parody Videos While Injured Vets Wait for Benefits"
It doesn't get any worse than this...
Katie Pavlich has the details on this story at Townhall.com. She begins:
"Veterans coming back from wars in Afghanistan and Iraq with severe injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder have been left behind by their government as they desperately wait for a response about disability benefits from the Department of Veteran's affairs. Many veterans returning from war have been waiting for over a year. Currently, the VA system has a backlog of approximately 500,000 cases and they're being cleared extremely slowly, causing further long term pain to veterans and their families."
Tuesday, November 05, 2013
Video: Obama Saying You Can Keep Your Plan -- Daily Intelligencer
When video shows someone saying the same thing over and over, you'd have to be really gullible to buy into the "he misspoke" excuse...
On the New York Magazine website, Dan Amira has the story and a fun video:
"Obama did knowingly make an overly simplistic guarantee to the American people that Obamacare wouldn't affect their current plans. And as this video compilation shows, he made this guarantee over and over again."
[FLASHBACK] Senate Dems promised if you like your plan you can keep your plan
The untrue comments about Obamacare are not restricted to the President.
Many Democrats echoed the same untrue comments over and over again.
Here's the video...
Many Democrats echoed the same untrue comments over and over again.
Here's the video...
Monday, November 04, 2013
Serco’s Checkered History | National Review Online
It's probably safe to say no one checked "Angie's List" before hiring these guys...
AT National Review, Jillian Kay Melchior begings the story with this gem:
"he CEO of Serco, a British-based company whose North American division received one of the largest contracts to work on the Obamacare insurance exchanges,[1] resigned Friday amid allegations that the company had defrauded the British government of millions of pounds.
Even as myriad other allegations emerged about its work around the globe, Serco spent heavily on lobbying in Washington, D.C., and secured a multi-year contract potentially worth $1.249 billion to handle paper applications for the Obamacare exchanges. Serco did not respond to e-mail and voice-mail requests for comment."
Senate Democrats supported rule that led to insurance cancellations – CNN.com
CNN's Chris Frates posted this and more details:
"Washington (CNN) - Senate Democrats voted unanimously three years ago to support the Obamacare rule that is largely responsible for some of the health insurance cancellation letters that are going out. In September 2010, Senate Republicans brought a resolution to the floor to block implementation of the grandfather rule, warning that it would result in canceled policies and violate President Barack Obama’s promise that people could keep their insurance if they liked it."
Sunday, November 03, 2013
2013-11-03 - Words of Wisdom
Saturday, November 02, 2013
How Washington Really Redistributes Income - WSJ.com
This is quite an interesting article.
See if you can agree with it's premise...
See if you can agree with it's premise...
In the Wall Stret Journal, James Freeman has some interesting stuff in his interview with Stanley Druckenmiller:
"While many seniors believe they are simply drawing out the "savings" they were forced to deposit into Social Security and Medicare, they are actually drawing out much more, especially relative to later generations. That's because politicians have voted to award the seniors ever more generous benefits. As a result, while today's 65-year-olds will receive on average net lifetime benefits of $327,400, children born now will suffer net lifetime losses of $420,600 as they struggle to pay the bills of aging Americans.
One of the great ironies of the Obama presidency is that it has been a disaster for the young people who form the core of his political coalition. High unemployment is paired with exploding debt that they will have to finance whenever they eventually find jobs.
Are the kids finally figuring out that the Obama economy is a lousy deal for them? 'No, I don't sense that,' says Mr. Druckenmiller, who is a registered independent."
Friday, November 01, 2013
Government at Work - on Earned Income Tax Credits
For me "government at work" is a nasty connotation.
Stories like this support and reinforce that thought...
Stories like this support and reinforce that thought...
At Townhall.com, Byron York explains in his article titled "IRS Tax Credit Scandal A Bad Omen For Obamacare":
"The government sends out between $60 billion and $70 billion a year in Earned Income Tax Credit payments. Now, a new IRS inspector general's report shows that a huge amount of that — anywhere between 21 and 30 percent, depending on the year — has been given out improperly to recipients who do not qualify for the payment. The inspector general estimates that somewhere between $110 billion and $132 billion -- billion, not million -- has been given away in improper Earned Income Tax Credit payments in the last decade. "
