The House has passed a health care bill – hurrah?

While trivial matters such a Senate passage, the inevitable conference committee, etc. await, it looks like the House has passed something.

Questions I still have.  Where is the chart that tells us simpletons what will be required when we buy health insurance?  Where is the chart that tells what the public option will (or will not cover)?  Fobbing the job off to a commission is a dereliction of duty.  It permits the Congress/President to say I delivered but also deny any responsibility (those darn independent commissions) for the results.

Why require mandatory health insurance purchase?  Why not default auto enrollment in the public option or one of the private plans chosen at random?  Why not simply adapt one of the working government health plans instead of a de novo approach?

Why do I think the end result of all this will be more lawyers on TV advertising their skill in securing your maximum health insurance coverage?

Over playing the hand

In the latest salvo in Alabama’s Bingo Wars, Milton McGregor, owner of the VictoryLand complex in Macon County said in a  Tuskegee News article:

McGregor was more blunt as it relates to Riley.

“The governor in this state doesn’t like to see minority counties prosper. He really opposes me and is scared of this man (Jesse Jackson) because Rev. Jesse Jackson stands up for people and causes of people who need help,” McGregor said.

A white plutocrat giving plantation politics a new twist is amusing.  However, can expect him to finance pushing this meme as was has been done since the Yankee troops left.

 

A few random though fragments on BSD

Because of the unstable interaction betewwn the newer linux kernels and the intel video drivers, have been looking for an alternative OS.

NetBSD, works but tends to be laggy when playing video (though a/v sync does not drop).  FreeBSD 8.0RC worked but didn’t have the snap and whirl I like.  So that left OpenBSD 4.6, which for now does what what I want, (web, mail, usenet, video/audio transcoding) while keeping the bad guys out..

Each have their advantages though and should be considered.

 

A righteous rant

over at the World Around You, Being Knowledgeable Consumers of the News, Whatever the Source.  FWIW, I’ve found as much to ponder from reading trotskyites as libertarians.  Also, always entertaining reading the news from the country that is the subject of successful American smart reset button pressing diplomacy and how the foreign press (who sees things we don’t) reports on inernal American issues.

When using this information to mock up the ole daily sit map, always shave it with Ockham’s razor, apply Sturgeon’s Law, touch up with Hanlon’s Razor and recall all is maya.

ARESA writes again

And once again, I am not a retired teacher, not enrolled in PEEHIP nor was I ever a member of AEA/ARESA, yet, they send me a “time to pay your retired membership” notice.  In a seperate mailer, I am invited to join for $5 per month with an optional $2 monthly for their PAC.

Hmm no, working for COLA’s without working for tax increases to fund them is bad.  This causes the retirement fund to make more from the nest egg that is coming in.  Same also applies to working to increase funding for retired educator’s health insurance without working for a corresponding tax increase.

So,  all filed in the appropriate spot.   Once again, shake head at the inability/unwillingess of Alabama’s public workers to grasp the implications of what they want.

Practical politics

or a reminder to vote right?   SSA beneficiaries will not see a COLA raise next year because, in a recession, the cost of living did not increase.   So, whats a president to do when faced with sagging polls, midterm elections but propose a a one time cash payment in lieu of raise.  While a no shirt, sherlock maneuver, it also shows once again, electoral victory (and power)  is more important adherence to existing law and stated desires to balance the budget, match spedning increases with spending decreases, etc.

This does not sound good

From the People’s Daily, Chinese exports have stopped falling but September exports and imports were both down by about 10%.  All of which make the prospect of a retail driven boost in the economy this Christmas more unlikely.  September was when those orders for Christmas goodies (from toys to diabetes testing kits) should have been placed and delivery started.

If gonna be a long gray winter.

A second stimulus?

Or would this be the third since 2008?   Politico has the latest.   Of course, this does not mean in any way that the job creation (remember green jobs) goals haven’t been met nor does it mean that the second one was unsuccessful.  That way leads to racism, terrorist sympathies, cynicism and other distasteful matters.

While the Politico article states a piecemeal approach is being made, remember how rock soup is made.

Obama – Dove of Peace

Or so the headline at RUVR reads, announcing the Noble Prize award today.    Next up, Putin and the rest of  Russia’s oligarchs for holding on well enough to keep special weapons and MANPADS under control, which has made for a more peaceful planet.

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A ballad about rural poverty

While things haven’t go this bad yet, one wonders if they will.  Hungry people make desperate people