Flower Power: 10 things you can do to start a community garden.
Obligatory Insurance Items: So you’ve heard that we have 45,000 deaths annually that are essentially from lack of health insurance, right? These are deaths that would have been prevented if people had thought they could afford to see a doctor sooner. We’ve got insurance companies paying huge fines for dropping people who might need care — but only when they get caught and taken to court. We’ve also got insurance companies effective saying that women’s health issues aren’t their problem (covering women who are trying to escape abusive relationships or who once had a C-section might cost money). And our Congressmice want to pander to the insurance companies. Well, most of them anyway.
Bankers hold all the cards: Ok, household and business debt is down. That’s good, right? Well, the reason debt is down is that banks aren’t lending, despite the fact that TARP was supposed to give the banks plenty of liquidity (i.e., money) so they could lend. Their excuse? Nobody “qualified” wants to borrow. Of course they set the qualifications, which used to be ludicrously loose and are now ludicrously tight. Guess what? No real end to the recession without new startups putting people to work, and that’s not happening until startups have access to capital.
On Economic Inequality: Why it’s a problem.
Nevada is a funny place: Aw gee, maybe it’s a bad idea for Medical Assistants to be giving Botox injections and chemo drugs and a bunch of other stuff. Flu shots? That’s ok. On the other hand, I’m kinda looking forward to Penn and Teller’s new TV show.
Some good economic news, for a change: If you actually still have a job, your wages likely went up! What’s more, you’re less likely to lose your job! Of course since 5 states now have unemployment rates of over 12%, that’s not saying a whole lot. Remember, that’s the super-narrow “U3” rate, not the wider U6 number.
Condoms can save the world: It turns out that preventing unwanted pregnancies is 4 to 5 times more cost effective than most “green” technology. But nobody wants to talk about that because contraceptives are “controversial”. News flash, the people who are against contraceptives also don’t believe in global warming, and many of them think the world is ending in their lifetime anyway. Moving on now!
Um, yeah: So I conclude on a related note, 10 worst cars to have sex in.
Happy Saturday, Happy New Year to my Jewish readers.
Yes indeed. Having a C-Section is going to be a BIG problem if you would like to have health insurance. I know this to be a fact because I used to sell for Prudential. Having a prior C-Section [at that time] would DOUBLE the cost of a woman’s insurance … IF she could get it at all. Thank’s PRU. I learned a lot working for you sorry s.o.b.’s.
There is an interesting comment made on the Huff/post blog about market share. The commenter states that most of the near monopolies are owned but the non-profit or not-for-profit ‘Blues’ (crosses/shields etc.) and that co-ops will be placed in competition with them…
The medicine could kill the patient, and may attack good tissue as well as bad… I want to see the text of the proposal too.
It is sad and disheartening that when I hear of a senator or representative introduce a measure designed to help the common man, that I wonder what the true motivations are.