A few...brief thoughts about healthcare reform.

Lets presume for a moment that the Affordable Care Act and ancillary actions enacted by a Democratically controlled Congress and forced on America by the Obama administration needs to be reformed or changed or repealed.  Lets presume that for a moment.

The Republicans and those that thought such reform necessary have had eight years or so to come up with something better...anything to make healthcare more affordable in this nation. The Republicans spent eight years voting on measures to repeal the Affordable Care Act, knowing that it would never get past a Democratic administration. And now...when the Republicans run the show...totally...they cannot get anything done. Its quite reprehensible and ridiculous:  eight years!!!!

The Affordable Care Act is quite a misnomer. It was never about making healthcare better or more affordable. Actually, its made it quite a bit less affordable. The company for which I work has seen health insurance premiums increase an average of  >15%/YEAR  over those eight years. Those increases occurred while the company aggressively managed its health insurance program. I know that's an anecdotal story but, I'm certain you'd hear it over and over from small business and large business owners.

What the act has done is shift wealth to the insurance and health care industries...on the whole.  Sure, there are some folks that now have coverage that couldn't / didn't before...but, we've sure all paid for it. Health care isn't free. And, those that do have coverage are seeing more and more of their wages going to insurance premiums, deductibles, out-of-pocket costs for $10 band-aids, etc. which means less for everything else.

My contention back during the development of the Affordable Care Act is that any reforms need to focus on the drivers of the healthcare costs not on the system of paying for those costs: the ability of insurance companies to compete across state lines, malpractice coverage/tort reform, transparency in health care costs/pricing, etc.  The idea should have been to make it more AFFORDABLE not shift the costs around for it while they increase every year! HA! I told that to my Congressional Rep and Senators. See how that helped!

I'm thinking such a scheme is not in the interest of the status quo of our nation. Follow the money. Qui Bono? I suggest a major redo, not just of healthcare but of our political system and how its funded but, that's another story.

That's my pessimistic angry rant for the day. I feel mildly better now. 

The Poodles wish the best to you and yours!

Corruption is Legal in America?!

I've had this feeling for a while that the political system in the United States has been corrupted by special interests...people with money...that are able to influence the system to their benefit vs. what is in the best interest of the American people as a whole. The feeling I've had is one of helplessness...that my wishes or that of any other individual has no influence whatsoever on what is done by our governmental representatives that were supposedly elected to represent us.

So, while reading through a blog of one of favorite commentators of late, Caitlin Johnstone I came across the following post of hers:

Caitlin Johnstone: The Real Reason The Elites Keep Killing Single-Payer

In that post she references the following youtube video from represent.us...an organization with I was not familiar. Very interesting...about a Princeton University study showing just that...that my opinion/wishes/desires have no impact of any significance on what government does while those with money/power/influence in the system have a significant influence. Not a surprise but, a confirmation of what I already knew.

So...I went to their website represent.us (which curiously was indicated as UNSAFE by my web browser...like something scary was gonna happen if I went there...they were going to steal my identity or the NSA was going to watch me or something but I was curious enough to forge on).  Very very interesting indeed,  It seems like others have had the same feeling...and are doing something about it.  What do they do?  They "bring together conservatives, progressives, and everyone in between to pass powerful anti-corruption laws that stop the political bribery, end secret money, and fix our broken elections." Well, that sounds great. They have another video explaining their plan:

More info here:  The American Anti-Corruption Act

This isn't necessarily an endorsement...I need to do some more research about their proposals but, it is along the lines of exactly what I have been thinking: a complete reformation/transformation of the way the American political process is funded.  Get the special interests with big money out and limit what any one individual can put into the process. It's nor really rocket science but, something in which the status quo is not interested.

Anyway, something for you to ponder this week...and possibly a way in which positive action can be taken.

Best regards

Evidence of Russian collusion with Trump et. al. ... I think not!!!

In case you've missed it....there has been a 24/7 stream of consciousness about how Vladmir Putin and his Russian pals conspired with the Trump campaign to steal the 2016 U.S. Presidential election for the Donald (and Russian perpetration of all other sorts of nonsense and tomfoolery). That's what many think including Hillary (It's Someone Else's Fault) Clinton. Well...there does not appear  to be any evidence other than some "authority's" heresay...repeated incessantly as "facts".

Here's a great piece of research by Caitlin Johnston @ medium.com about all that "evidence" or lack thereof.  I present it for your consideration:

The Big Fat Compendium Of Russiagate Debunkery

and this...the next day about a leak of an NSA report that was supposed to support the Russia involvement narrative:

NSA Leak Answers No Questions About Russia, Asks Many About Election Integrity

Guess what?  Like it or not, Donald Trump is President of the United States of America for reasons other than Russian meddling.

Hope you have a great day!

3 Rules for Rulers...

Just in case you were interested in becoming a ruler today...here are some helpful tips to get you going:

A perspective on the Charlotte Riots aka Protests...for your consideration:

Peaceful demonstrations are a good thing...the exercising the rights provided to American citizens. However, legitimate "protests"  do not include the following:

• Stealing and looting cash registers from local businesses.
• A “protester” shooting another “protester”.
• Physically attacking reporters.
• Throwing rocks off bridges at passing vehicles full of families 
• Beating up innocent people in parking lots because they’re white. 
• Smashing up apartment windows where black people live to “protest” in favor of ‘Black Lives Matter’. 
• Trashing your own neighborhood.
• Looting the Charlotte Hornets team store so you can steal basketball merchandise.
• Attempting to hijack cars and terrify their innocent occupants.

Here's an interesting perspective on the facts and circumstance of what's happened in Charlotte, North Carolina over the last few days:

All lives matter...but...the poodles are thinking maybe thug lives, not so much?

Your Fun Facts Reading for the Day!

Charles Hugh Smith: What if we're in a depression but don't know it?

Some fine "recovery" this has been!! The poodles are not very impressed...at all.

That Hillary!!! All in for the common man!

Oh that Hillary ... she's all about the average American!?

Wall Street...all in for Hillary!

...or simply more of the same!

Great Ideas from the Trump Campaign!!!

This is great!!! People taking fake campaign ads seriously...good grief!!!