Read this on HuffingtonPost.com
Look, I'm as ready as the next guy to call out the Obama administration for the shoddy rollout of the ACA. I'm also confident that at the end of the day, as the exchanges become more accessible and as families with incomes below four times poverty get help paying for the coverage they buy there -- coverage that for some will be of higher quality than what they had -- the reforms will first become more popular, and later become an appreciated, and probably pretty dull, part of the fabric of life in America.
One of the problems in getting from here to there is articles like in yesterday's NYT. No question there are people paying more for health care under the ACA, but the examples in here seem awfully cherry-picked to support the headline claim that the new law "Frustrates many in Middle Class."
First, let's talk middle-class. The median family income in the U.S. right now is about $62,000. For families of four, like the one featured in the piece, it's about $80,000. Income eligibility for the subsidies goes up to four times the poverty threshold, or about $94,000 for a family of four, meaning that a median-income family buying coverage on the exchange would be eligible for a subsidy. The family featured in the piece was chosen to be above the subsidy level--their income was $100,000. That's certainly a fair point and I'm not denying they're "middle-class." But the piece should have mentioned the median, or more to the point, the fact that according to Census data, the ratio of income to the poverty threshold for families in the middle fifth of the income scale is 3.5, again, below the subsidy cutoff of 4.
But what of this "cliff" business on which the piece focuses, i.e., that the family takes a huge hit by not being eligible for the subsidy? As noted, the subsidy cutoff for a family of four is about $94,000 and the family's contribution is capped at 9.5 percent of their income, or about $9,000. The Chapman's, the family featured in the piece, with income of $100,000, may now pay about $12,000 per year for coverage.
To me, I had a hard time coming across anything positive about the ACA but I am amazed. The arguments about whether or not the ACA will help or hurt certain families is a wild card to me as it varies deeply. This article specifically uses the middle class an example for the goodness of how the ACA will help them. I think that a big problem is how it states the median families income is about $62,000. That number varies wildly and families incomes are all over the place. Lots of families incomes will boost that number as their incomes are at the of the range while lower earning families will drag that number down. Even the number of children is too great to truly guess where it stands. The ACA's numbers and machinery will help lots, and hurt lots depending on someone's individual view, as well as political standpoints.
Sunday, December 22, 2013
GOP lawmakers accuse EPA of muzzling scientists on climate regulations
Read this on FOXnews.com
Published December 20, 2013
Published December 20, 2013
FoxNews.com
Republican leaders on the House Science Committee are accusing the Environmental Protection Agency of disregarding science in its push to impose carbon dioxide limits on power plants.
Committee Chairman Lamar Smith, R-Texas, and 20 other Republican lawmakers sent a letter to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy on Thursday, claiming the agency has "muzzled" members of its independent science advisory board. The EPA released a proposal in September that would set emissions caps for new coal-fired power plants and would likely require the industry to use carbon-capture technology, which involves burying the carbon underground. Critics of the proposed rule say the technology, which is still under development, is too expensive, not commercially available and poses safety risks.
The lawmakers claim the agency is ignoring dissenting voices on its science advisory board, which recommended a review of the science underpinning the newest power plant rule.
A senior official at EPA recently deflected the scientists' criticisms by claiming that the rule, which has yet to be finalized, doesn't need to address carbon dioxide storage, the lawmakers said.
“We are concerned about the agency’s apparent disregard for the concerns of its science advisors,” the lawmakers wrote. “Science is a valuable tool to help policymakers navigate complex issues. However, when inconvenient facts are disregarded or when dissenting voices are muzzled, a frank discussion becomes impossible."
The agency maintains the carbon-capture technology has been "adequately demonstrated" based on a government-funded projects under construction in Mississippi and three planned projects in Texas, California and Canada. The lawmakers said the proposed mandates in the rule would "create regulatory burdens" and "litigation risks" for the coal industry and would result in the loss of American jobs. “The EPA’s proposed power plant regulations will put Americans out of work and will make electricity more expensive and less reliable," the lawmakers wrote. "It is misleading and dangerous for EPA to quietly dismiss inconvenient facts and ignore the consequences of its costly regulations. Americans deserve honesty.”
In October, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Rep. Ed Whitfield, R-Ky., released draft legislation to block the EPA's proposal to limit emissions from new power plants and require the agency to set new rules that incorporate "commercially feasible" technologies.
The Manchin-Whitfield proposal has yet to be officially introduced.
In my personal view I cannot be sure whether or not I am completely agreeing with this article as I question the source it comes from as well. It is just so hard to find an unbiased article about anything these days, you have to do more work and check your work, visiting multiple sites when we all wish we could just have one easy place to go to. There are always accusations and misleading things when it comes to blaming other departments in our government about what scientists have found and have not found. When is there a nice happy non-backstabbing group in politics? I don't think ever, there cannot be peace ever in politics, because like we discussed in class, it is all about power. And if someone loses an argument in something of importance like this then it is not very exciting.
The lawmakers claim the agency is ignoring dissenting voices on its science advisory board, which recommended a review of the science underpinning the newest power plant rule.
A senior official at EPA recently deflected the scientists' criticisms by claiming that the rule, which has yet to be finalized, doesn't need to address carbon dioxide storage, the lawmakers said.
“We are concerned about the agency’s apparent disregard for the concerns of its science advisors,” the lawmakers wrote. “Science is a valuable tool to help policymakers navigate complex issues. However, when inconvenient facts are disregarded or when dissenting voices are muzzled, a frank discussion becomes impossible."
The agency maintains the carbon-capture technology has been "adequately demonstrated" based on a government-funded projects under construction in Mississippi and three planned projects in Texas, California and Canada. The lawmakers said the proposed mandates in the rule would "create regulatory burdens" and "litigation risks" for the coal industry and would result in the loss of American jobs. “The EPA’s proposed power plant regulations will put Americans out of work and will make electricity more expensive and less reliable," the lawmakers wrote. "It is misleading and dangerous for EPA to quietly dismiss inconvenient facts and ignore the consequences of its costly regulations. Americans deserve honesty.”
In October, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Rep. Ed Whitfield, R-Ky., released draft legislation to block the EPA's proposal to limit emissions from new power plants and require the agency to set new rules that incorporate "commercially feasible" technologies.
The Manchin-Whitfield proposal has yet to be officially introduced.
In my personal view I cannot be sure whether or not I am completely agreeing with this article as I question the source it comes from as well. It is just so hard to find an unbiased article about anything these days, you have to do more work and check your work, visiting multiple sites when we all wish we could just have one easy place to go to. There are always accusations and misleading things when it comes to blaming other departments in our government about what scientists have found and have not found. When is there a nice happy non-backstabbing group in politics? I don't think ever, there cannot be peace ever in politics, because like we discussed in class, it is all about power. And if someone loses an argument in something of importance like this then it is not very exciting.
Man Who Shot Reagan Allowed Longer Stays Out Of Mental Hospital
Read this on NPR
John Hinckley Jr., the man who tried to assassinate President Ronald Reagan in 1981, has been granted more time outside the mental hospital where he's been confined for almost three decades.
U.S. District Judge Paul L. Friedman ordered that Hinckley be allowed to visit his mother's home in Williamsburg, Va., for up to 17 days at a time, tacking a week on to the 10-day visits that were already permitted away from St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Washington, D.C.
Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity after he shot Reagan and three others on March 30, 1981.
The Associated Press says:
U.S. District Judge Paul L. Friedman ordered that Hinckley be allowed to visit his mother's home in Williamsburg, Va., for up to 17 days at a time, tacking a week on to the 10-day visits that were already permitted away from St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Washington, D.C.
Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity after he shot Reagan and three others on March 30, 1981.
The Associated Press says:
` The Washington Post said:"Hinckley must make at least eight successful 17-day visits away from the hospital before any requests to increase his time in Williamsburg beyond that will even be considered.
"In court hearings before the ruling, Hinckley's lawyer, Barry Levine, had asked for his visits to be expanded to 17 and 24 days, arguing that there is no evidence Hinckley is a danger to himself or others. Attorneys for the U.S. government, however, argued that Hinckley is 'capable of great violence' and told the judge that granting expanded privileges was 'premature and ill conceived.'"
"Friedman wrote that Hinckley's depression and psychotic disorder are in full remission and that he had not displayed violent behavior in more than 29 years."
I don't know a lot about the details regarding the history of this event and have not looked into it but I understand why people would be worried to have a man who has committed such a severe crime would be allowed "free with reservations" out in public. I think that had this been a person related to a school shooting involving the slaying of many innocent children than they would not be allowed out in public at all if the public were to have a say in their punishment. But we don't like it when our rights are diminished, and so we have allowed "loopholes" in our legal system that allow people such as this man who shot Reagan to still have some freedoms reserved. Are we in the mood of saying that if its our rights then heavens no lets not weaken them, but if it was a criminal of some sorts than lets get rid of them altogether. We need to have better minority representation when dealing with the majorities."Friedman's order also allows Hinckley to drive alone to specific destinations — which Levine said will help him integrate in Williamsburg — though it requires he carry a GPS enabled cell phone during unsupervised activities. Friedman wrote that court and mental health officials would evaluate Hinckley's progress after eight 17-day visits."
Democratic senator says Obamacare can hurt itself
Read this on Reuters
President Barack Obama's healthcare law could have a "meltdown" and make it difficult for his Democratic Party to keep control of the U.S. Senate next year if ongoing problems with the program are not resolved, a Democratic senator said on Sunday.
"If it's so much more expensive than what we anticipated and if the coverage is not as good as what we had, you've got a complete meltdown at that time," Manchin told CNN's "State of the Union" program.
There have been complaints from consumers about higher premiums than they previously had to pay for health insurance after their old plans were canceled because of new standards under the law, as well as lingering problems with the main web portal used to sign up for insurance, HealthCare.gov.
I know that this whole healthcare reform is big, confusing, hard to understand, and has had its problems inflated in such a way that any exposure will be negative. I have yet to see any positive news regarding this issue. Now, obviously there is lots of positive news out there, but that may not be very exciting so a media outlet probably wouldn't want to have run of the mill stuff. If you want some real biased and inflated information and accusational news then go and visit the Republican and Democrats official websites. Or any other major political party's webpages. There you will see the most outrageously propagandic stories of how their party is so much more right than the others.
President Barack Obama's healthcare law could have a "meltdown" and make it difficult for his Democratic Party to keep control of the U.S. Senate next year if ongoing problems with the program are not resolved, a Democratic senator said on Sunday.
Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who has urged delaying a penalty for people who do not enroll for health insurance in 2014 under the law, told CNN that a transitional year was needed for the complex healthcare program, commonly known as Obamacare, to work.
"If it's so much more expensive than what we anticipated and if the coverage is not as good as what we had, you've got a complete meltdown at that time," Manchin told CNN's "State of the Union" program.
"It falls of its own weight, if basically the cost becomes more than we can absorb, absolutely."
The White House has been scrambling for months to control the damage from the botched October 1 launch of the law, formally called the Affordable Care Act, which aimed at making sure that millions of Americans without health insurance are able to receive medical coverage.
There have been complaints from consumers about higher premiums than they previously had to pay for health insurance after their old plans were canceled because of new standards under the law, as well as lingering problems with the main web portal used to sign up for insurance, HealthCare.gov.
Manchin said Senate Democrats who are up for re-election next year are "feeling the weight" of the program's woes and could have trouble keeping their majority in the chamber.
Republicans have been highlighting the healthcare law's difficulties as they seek to gain the six seats they would need to win control of the 100-member Senate.
I know that this whole healthcare reform is big, confusing, hard to understand, and has had its problems inflated in such a way that any exposure will be negative. I have yet to see any positive news regarding this issue. Now, obviously there is lots of positive news out there, but that may not be very exciting so a media outlet probably wouldn't want to have run of the mill stuff. If you want some real biased and inflated information and accusational news then go and visit the Republican and Democrats official websites. Or any other major political party's webpages. There you will see the most outrageously propagandic stories of how their party is so much more right than the others.
Purge in North Korea far frokm over: Expert says
Read this on CNN.com
December 20th, 2013
Former NBA star Dennis Rodman arrived in North Korea on Thursday, the country's state-run media reported. The State Department is not involved in the trip, and Rodman is not officially representing the U.S. "I'm not of the view that this is a particularly positive development," said Christopher Hill, dean of the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at Denver University. Hill said there are usually two sides to such widely-reported trips to North Korea. On the one hand it helps the regime suggest that everything is normal. On the other, it might be an opportunity to send a clear message to the Hermit Kingdom – on human rights violations, for example, or to advocate for the release of imprisoned American citizen Kenneth Bae.
"I'm not sure Dennis Rodman is the kind of person who can make that clearer message to the regime there," said Hill, who led the U.S. delegation during the six-party talks with North Korea from 2005-2009.
Former Ambassador to the United Nations Bill Richardson, who has traveled to North Korea several times, said Rodman might share useful information gleaned while in North Korea with government officials when he returns to the U.S. Like information on recent government purges. Kim Jong Un executed his uncle Jang Song Thaek earlier this month. Kim's aunt – whose husband was executed – was missing from a ceremony marking the two-year anniversary of Kim Jong Il's death Tuesday. But Hill says she has been ill for months, even years, so it's not unusual for her to miss events.
"I don't think the purge will extend to her. But I do emphasize I don't think this purge is over," said Hill. "Usually when you go after the top person like Jang Song Thaek, it suggests it's going to go further.
In my personal view this is very crazy, and dangerous again as these informal contacts that north korea has should not be seen as any olive branch diplomatic signs to me. I agree with Hills satatement here: "I think a lot of North Kroeans are very nervous right now. Unfortunately, Rodman is not briefed by the State Department after his visits, or if he is, it is very cursory, There are people who have spent a lifetime trying to figure out what's going on in North Korea, and I'm not sure Dennis Rodman is really quite up to that challenge at this time. Leader Kim Jong Un allowing Rodman's visit to continue despite the recent government purges should not be interpreted as a diplomatic signal." People like rodman are the crazy frays on the ends of rope that make our reputation laughable to other countries and even those within our own country.
December 20th, 2013
11:32 AM ET
Former NBA star Dennis Rodman arrived in North Korea on Thursday, the country's state-run media reported. The State Department is not involved in the trip, and Rodman is not officially representing the U.S. "I'm not of the view that this is a particularly positive development," said Christopher Hill, dean of the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at Denver University. Hill said there are usually two sides to such widely-reported trips to North Korea. On the one hand it helps the regime suggest that everything is normal. On the other, it might be an opportunity to send a clear message to the Hermit Kingdom – on human rights violations, for example, or to advocate for the release of imprisoned American citizen Kenneth Bae.
"I'm not sure Dennis Rodman is the kind of person who can make that clearer message to the regime there," said Hill, who led the U.S. delegation during the six-party talks with North Korea from 2005-2009.
Former Ambassador to the United Nations Bill Richardson, who has traveled to North Korea several times, said Rodman might share useful information gleaned while in North Korea with government officials when he returns to the U.S. Like information on recent government purges. Kim Jong Un executed his uncle Jang Song Thaek earlier this month. Kim's aunt – whose husband was executed – was missing from a ceremony marking the two-year anniversary of Kim Jong Il's death Tuesday. But Hill says she has been ill for months, even years, so it's not unusual for her to miss events.
"I don't think the purge will extend to her. But I do emphasize I don't think this purge is over," said Hill. "Usually when you go after the top person like Jang Song Thaek, it suggests it's going to go further.
In my personal view this is very crazy, and dangerous again as these informal contacts that north korea has should not be seen as any olive branch diplomatic signs to me. I agree with Hills satatement here: "I think a lot of North Kroeans are very nervous right now. Unfortunately, Rodman is not briefed by the State Department after his visits, or if he is, it is very cursory, There are people who have spent a lifetime trying to figure out what's going on in North Korea, and I'm not sure Dennis Rodman is really quite up to that challenge at this time. Leader Kim Jong Un allowing Rodman's visit to continue despite the recent government purges should not be interpreted as a diplomatic signal." People like rodman are the crazy frays on the ends of rope that make our reputation laughable to other countries and even those within our own country.
Foreign Policy with North Korea, Vodka the solution?
Read this on the National News Post
Dennis Rodman wants to belly up to the bar with some friends and order a shot of peace talks.
“Everyone knows [President Barack] Obama drinks beer,” Rodman said. “But you know what? I’m pretty sure he does have a cocktail here or there. I’d love to see him with a Vodka shot in his hand, toasting to Kim Jong [Un] and me.
“That would be awesome.”
A Rodman-branded vodka is set to debut this week, just the latest business venture he’s had a fling with, stretching from wrestling to authoring a children’s book to even, yes, unofficial basketball ambassador to North Korea. He can count Kim as a fan of the vodka — the duo drank from two cases Rodman brought over for his recent visit in September, where they talked hoops and planned an exhibition game in January.
It takes years of vetting to become well connected in politics, and to me, just because your great at basketball doesn't mean you have a very good sense or knowledge of foreign policy. This is very risky for the US-N. Korea foreign relations as the US certainly does not want Rodman to do this.
Dennis Rodman wants to belly up to the bar with some friends and order a shot of peace talks.
“Everyone knows [President Barack] Obama drinks beer,” Rodman said. “But you know what? I’m pretty sure he does have a cocktail here or there. I’d love to see him with a Vodka shot in his hand, toasting to Kim Jong [Un] and me.
“That would be awesome.”
A Rodman-branded vodka is set to debut this week, just the latest business venture he’s had a fling with, stretching from wrestling to authoring a children’s book to even, yes, unofficial basketball ambassador to North Korea. He can count Kim as a fan of the vodka — the duo drank from two cases Rodman brought over for his recent visit in September, where they talked hoops and planned an exhibition game in January.
It takes years of vetting to become well connected in politics, and to me, just because your great at basketball doesn't mean you have a very good sense or knowledge of foreign policy. This is very risky for the US-N. Korea foreign relations as the US certainly does not want Rodman to do this.
Dennis Rodman defends his visit to North Korea following its "Purge"
Read this on the National Post
Dennis Rodman has recently traveled to North Korea -again and while he says he's had a great time, he did not get to meet their dear leader this last go around. He said that won’t stop him from coming back on Kim’s birthday next month to hold an exhibition game with other former basketball stars.
On the night before he was due to leave Pyongyang, Rodman told The Associated Press on Sunday that he had not yet had a meeting with Kim. The flamboyant Hall of Famer said that he didn’t expect to meet the leader every time he comes to North Korea, and that his current trip was for training North Korean basketball players who will take part in the match Rodman is organizing for Kim’s birthday on Jan. 8.
“I’m not just coming over here to meet the leader,” Rodman said. “I came over here to meet the basketball team, to prepare a great game for the leader for his birthday. And people need to understand that it’s not important for me to meet him every time I come over because he has another greater job to do for his country, and I respect that, but this trip was basically to come over to train the team, so we can have a great, great, game.”
I think that for a USA sports player to make such a big fuss and actually acting on it to go visit an isolated country is very dangerous. It seems as if it is much for popularity and publicity rather than really trying to help the people.
Dennis Rodman has recently traveled to North Korea -again and while he says he's had a great time, he did not get to meet their dear leader this last go around. He said that won’t stop him from coming back on Kim’s birthday next month to hold an exhibition game with other former basketball stars.
On the night before he was due to leave Pyongyang, Rodman told The Associated Press on Sunday that he had not yet had a meeting with Kim. The flamboyant Hall of Famer said that he didn’t expect to meet the leader every time he comes to North Korea, and that his current trip was for training North Korean basketball players who will take part in the match Rodman is organizing for Kim’s birthday on Jan. 8.
“I’m not just coming over here to meet the leader,” Rodman said. “I came over here to meet the basketball team, to prepare a great game for the leader for his birthday. And people need to understand that it’s not important for me to meet him every time I come over because he has another greater job to do for his country, and I respect that, but this trip was basically to come over to train the team, so we can have a great, great, game.”
I think that for a USA sports player to make such a big fuss and actually acting on it to go visit an isolated country is very dangerous. It seems as if it is much for popularity and publicity rather than really trying to help the people.
Federal policies potentially create more economic bubbles
Read this on San Jose Mercury Business News
The Federal Reserve's super-low interest-rate policies have inflated a slew of dangerous asset bubbles. Or so critics say. They say stocks are at unsustainable prices. California homes are fetching frothy sums. Same with farmland, Bitcoins and rare Scotch.
Under Chairman Ben Bernanke, the Fed has aggressively bought bonds to try to cut borrowing rates and accelerate spending, investing and hiring. Its supporters say low rates have helped nourish the still-modest economic rebound.
Yet some say the Fed-engineered rates have produced an economic sugar high that risks triggering a crash akin to the tech-stock swoon in 2000 and the housing bust in 2006.
On the eve of the Fed's latest policy meeting Tuesday and Wednesday, here's why -- or why not -- these five assets might be in a bubble: Stocks, housing, farmland, bitcoin and scotch.
My opinion is greatest when it comes to stocks. Reasons for saying that stocks are a waiting to burst bubble are reasonable given that I myself am an investor with real stocks. The Standard & Poor's 500 stock index has jumped about 26 percent since the Fed announced a year ago that it would buy $85 billion in bonds each month. And since the Fed's first round of bond buying at the end of 2008, stocks have soared 124 percent. Stocks outside the United States have also surged as other central banks have followed the Fed with their own low-rate policies.
The Federal Reserve's super-low interest-rate policies have inflated a slew of dangerous asset bubbles. Or so critics say. They say stocks are at unsustainable prices. California homes are fetching frothy sums. Same with farmland, Bitcoins and rare Scotch.
Under Chairman Ben Bernanke, the Fed has aggressively bought bonds to try to cut borrowing rates and accelerate spending, investing and hiring. Its supporters say low rates have helped nourish the still-modest economic rebound.
Yet some say the Fed-engineered rates have produced an economic sugar high that risks triggering a crash akin to the tech-stock swoon in 2000 and the housing bust in 2006.
On the eve of the Fed's latest policy meeting Tuesday and Wednesday, here's why -- or why not -- these five assets might be in a bubble: Stocks, housing, farmland, bitcoin and scotch.
My opinion is greatest when it comes to stocks. Reasons for saying that stocks are a waiting to burst bubble are reasonable given that I myself am an investor with real stocks. The Standard & Poor's 500 stock index has jumped about 26 percent since the Fed announced a year ago that it would buy $85 billion in bonds each month. And since the Fed's first round of bond buying at the end of 2008, stocks have soared 124 percent. Stocks outside the United States have also surged as other central banks have followed the Fed with their own low-rate policies.
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