If there is anything we have learned in recent times is that we should judge Washington politicians by what they do, not by what they say. They will make promises, take positions, or make statements one way, then do just the opposite. Many times they just outright lie.
President Obama has stated, many times, that in regard to healthcare people can choose and keep their private medical insurance. Yet underway is an orchestrated effort to discredit private medical insurance companies in order to pave the way for COMPLETE federal control of health insurance. House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, recently called private insurers "villains". At the same time Senate Majority Leader, Henry Reid, has spoken out attempting to demonize private medical insurance companies. Still further, in a deceptive back handed manner Dr. David Scheiner, who was Barack Obama's personal physician, has spoken out making it appear that he is criticizing the Obama health plan and saying that ALL insurance should be government controlled. Yet this is consistent with what the Obama administration REALLY wants.
There is an ongoing attempt to play the American people like a fiddle toward federal control of our lives. All of this is occurring at breakneck speed. Americans need to wake up and put a halt to it before it is too late.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
One Last Chance for America
The destruction of America started with the Bush administration and is proceeding at breakneck speed under the Obama administration. If nothing else, the current crisis in America should point to an irresponsible, incompetent, low integrity, dishonest, and even corrupt Congress. This includes both major parties. If one reads about the formation of our great country and the words of the founders, nearly ALL of their warnings are being violated in regard to how to preserve of our democracy.
First, all power is being consolidated at the federal government level. Correspondingly, the independence and sovereignty of all 50 states is being undermined. Bankruptcy level debt is being generated, not only for today, but for future generations. This, in turn, will result in a heavily overtaxed population greatly limiting financial freedom and independence. Underway are complete federal control of banking, financial institutions, the auto industry, energy sources, the media and communication, transportation, executive pay, the healthcare of citizens, faux environmental programs, and more. There is a stampede, under the guise of urgency, to pass through Congress legislation with "sound good" titles that will take away many of our basic freedoms. These include freedoms of speech, religion, the right to bear arms, and other constitutional rights of people, as well as the rights of private industry.
The word "socialism" is frequently heard today, but what we have now occurring is worse than socialism. We are headed toward a totalitarian state. We have one chance, and one chance only, and that is through our votes in all upcoming local, state, and federal elections. Those in power know this and that is why they are attempting to ram through legislation with a sense of urgency. Once they have passed all their intended legislation the framework will have already been lain so the direction will become irreversible. It will be too late.
Irrespective of party, or party loyalty and affiliation, we need to elect excellent, competent, high integrity people at all levels of government. We need to get rid of those who brought us to this point of crisis and those who are primarily responsible. Whether a local selectman, a mayor, or the president of the United States we need to look critically, AS NEVER BEFORE, at each candidate. It is only by this process, using our right to vote, that we can re-capture America and our democracy. Our failure to do this, without question, will result in an America that we will no longer recognize within just a few short years. It is a battle against time. It will become irreversible unless we critically exercise our right to vote, critically as never before.
We have one chance and one chance only to save our country. It starts with the very next election at the local, state, and federal levels. It is urgent for us to all exercise our rights and speak out loudly, and particularly exercise our right to vote at this time. No one should be silent, and everyone needs to vote critically in whatever election that is before us.
First, all power is being consolidated at the federal government level. Correspondingly, the independence and sovereignty of all 50 states is being undermined. Bankruptcy level debt is being generated, not only for today, but for future generations. This, in turn, will result in a heavily overtaxed population greatly limiting financial freedom and independence. Underway are complete federal control of banking, financial institutions, the auto industry, energy sources, the media and communication, transportation, executive pay, the healthcare of citizens, faux environmental programs, and more. There is a stampede, under the guise of urgency, to pass through Congress legislation with "sound good" titles that will take away many of our basic freedoms. These include freedoms of speech, religion, the right to bear arms, and other constitutional rights of people, as well as the rights of private industry.
The word "socialism" is frequently heard today, but what we have now occurring is worse than socialism. We are headed toward a totalitarian state. We have one chance, and one chance only, and that is through our votes in all upcoming local, state, and federal elections. Those in power know this and that is why they are attempting to ram through legislation with a sense of urgency. Once they have passed all their intended legislation the framework will have already been lain so the direction will become irreversible. It will be too late.
Irrespective of party, or party loyalty and affiliation, we need to elect excellent, competent, high integrity people at all levels of government. We need to get rid of those who brought us to this point of crisis and those who are primarily responsible. Whether a local selectman, a mayor, or the president of the United States we need to look critically, AS NEVER BEFORE, at each candidate. It is only by this process, using our right to vote, that we can re-capture America and our democracy. Our failure to do this, without question, will result in an America that we will no longer recognize within just a few short years. It is a battle against time. It will become irreversible unless we critically exercise our right to vote, critically as never before.
We have one chance and one chance only to save our country. It starts with the very next election at the local, state, and federal levels. It is urgent for us to all exercise our rights and speak out loudly, and particularly exercise our right to vote at this time. No one should be silent, and everyone needs to vote critically in whatever election that is before us.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Open Letter to Congress on Healthcare
I URGE you NOT to vote in favor of a national healthcare system. We need to fine tune what we have, NOT go to a federally controlled program. The stampede to drive America toward a national healthcare system would be a disaster. Polls have shown that most people are satisfied with current health care coverage and the number of the current uninsured is grossly exaggerated. This is confirmed by credible independent sources such as the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). We need fine tuning, not massive change.
The costs will be enormous adding over 1 trillion dollars to our already bankrupt nation. Warnings from Europeans and Canadians not to go to a national healthcare system are being ignored. It is widely recognized that the United States has the best healthcare in the world.
Following are suggestions on what we should do:
Put a limit on the amount of money in medical related lawsuits. Doctors currently pay exorbitant amounts of money for medical insurance, this can be significantly reduced.
Streamline and reduce paperwork for medical claims. A huge amount of cost and lack of focus on the primary medical purpose presently exists. This will also significantly reduce costs.
The cost of pharmaceutical products, drugs, have skyrocketed. This needs to be addressed, the current excuses for high cost should be questioned and action taken to reduce the high cost of drugs.
Hospital and medical center management needs to be improved significantly so that these costs can be significantly reduced.
Place stronger control over pharmaceutical and medical / healthcare lobbies in Washington that serve to heap billions upon billions on dollars on our nations healthcare costs through special interest legislation that does not help but only hinders and compounds the problem. This influence needs to be curtailed, it is damaging America.
Where the government can help is by providing incentives toward needed medical specialties in our country by offering financial assistance to students in the various medical professions and other types of assistance.
There needs to be severe criminal penalties against those who commit medical fraud, or those who attempt to take advantage of our country's healthcare system. Medical fraud adds significant cost to our nations healthcare at present, this needs to be addressed.
We should use the significant cost savings of those measures mentioned above to provide medical coverage for those Americans who are poor or otherwise uninsured, who not by choice lack insurance. Note this number is significantly less that currently claimed. There may be some who are wealthy or for other reasons desire not to have health insurance and that is their right in a free democracy.
We will be watching your leadership and vote very closely on this critical issue.
The costs will be enormous adding over 1 trillion dollars to our already bankrupt nation. Warnings from Europeans and Canadians not to go to a national healthcare system are being ignored. It is widely recognized that the United States has the best healthcare in the world.
Following are suggestions on what we should do:
Put a limit on the amount of money in medical related lawsuits. Doctors currently pay exorbitant amounts of money for medical insurance, this can be significantly reduced.
Streamline and reduce paperwork for medical claims. A huge amount of cost and lack of focus on the primary medical purpose presently exists. This will also significantly reduce costs.
The cost of pharmaceutical products, drugs, have skyrocketed. This needs to be addressed, the current excuses for high cost should be questioned and action taken to reduce the high cost of drugs.
Hospital and medical center management needs to be improved significantly so that these costs can be significantly reduced.
Place stronger control over pharmaceutical and medical / healthcare lobbies in Washington that serve to heap billions upon billions on dollars on our nations healthcare costs through special interest legislation that does not help but only hinders and compounds the problem. This influence needs to be curtailed, it is damaging America.
Where the government can help is by providing incentives toward needed medical specialties in our country by offering financial assistance to students in the various medical professions and other types of assistance.
There needs to be severe criminal penalties against those who commit medical fraud, or those who attempt to take advantage of our country's healthcare system. Medical fraud adds significant cost to our nations healthcare at present, this needs to be addressed.
We should use the significant cost savings of those measures mentioned above to provide medical coverage for those Americans who are poor or otherwise uninsured, who not by choice lack insurance. Note this number is significantly less that currently claimed. There may be some who are wealthy or for other reasons desire not to have health insurance and that is their right in a free democracy.
We will be watching your leadership and vote very closely on this critical issue.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
National Healthcare a Disaster for America
The stampede to drive America toward a national healthcare system would be a disaster. It will result in worse healthcare than we presently have, place all important personal medical decisions under the control of the federal government, deny necessary life saving care for the elderly, and worse. The costs will be enormous adding over 1 trillion dollars to our already bankrupt nation. Warnings from Europeans and Canadians not to go to a national healthcare system are being ignored.
The drive toward a national healthcare system is based upon false premises. The number of the current uninsured is grossly exaggerated and this is confirmed by credible independent sources such as the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and several others. The claim that the costs will be budget neutral are also false. Any logical thinking person knows that the costs to our nation will be immense, with the burden thrust upon taxpayers today and future generations. This also has been confirmed by the CBO and other independent assessments.
The dangers of the national healthcare plan are not hearsay, opinion or conjecture, but facts. It is well known that an irresponsible Congress does not even read legislation, but others have...every page, every word, of both the House and Senate plans. Those who have read it including doctors and other credible groups are sending strong alarms quoting specific inclusions in the legislation and what page they appear on.
Rather than a massive federally controlled healthcare system all we need to do is fine tune what we have. Most people are satisfied with their current healthcare (polls have shown this) and it is widely recognized that the United States has the best healthcare in the world. We need to reduce costs, provide coverage for those Americans who desire healthcare and do not have it, and unclog some of the current paperwork bureaucracy. We also need to provide more incentives for people to enter the medical profession.
Here is the suggested plan:
Put a limit on the amount of money in medical related lawsuits. Doctors currently pay exorbitant amounts of money for medical insurance, this can be significantly reduced.
Streamline and reduce paperwork for medical claims. A huge amount of cost and lack of focus on the primary medical purpose presently exists. This will also significantly reduce costs.
The cost of pharmaceutical products, drugs, have skyrocketed. This needs to be addressed, the current excuses for high cost should be questioned and action taken to reduce the high cost of drugs.
Hospital and medical center management needs to be improved significantly so that these costs can be significantly reduced. For example, there is a tendency to just pass on costs rather than run these entities as true businesses. There is a need to critically look at ALL suppliers in regard to quality and cost. An ongoing goal should be to reduce cost, and in return, reduce prices. There should also be more competiveness with these institutions in regard to pricing, quality and total value received by patients.
Place stronger control over pharmaceutical and medical / healthcare lobbies in Washington that serve to heap billions upon billions on dollars on our nations healthcare costs through special interest legislation that does not help but only hinders and compounds the problem. This influence needs to be curtailed, it is damaging America.
Where the government can help is by providing incentives toward needed medical specialties in our country by offering financial assistance to students in the various medical professions and other types of assistance.
While being very supportive to the medical profession and to those related to the healthcare industry, there also needs to be severe criminal penalties against those who commit medical fraud, or those who attempt to take advantage of our country's healthcare system. Medical fraud adds significant cost to our nations healthcare at present, this needs to be addressed.
We should use the significant cost savings of those measures mentioned above to provide medical coverage for those Americans who are poor or otherwise uninsured, who not by choice have lack insurance. Note this number is significantly less that currently claimed. There may be some who are wealthy or for other reasons desire not to have health insurance and that is their right in a free democracy.
While taking costs out of healthcare as mentioned, large businesses should be offered tax incentives for offering good healthcare plans for their employees. Small businesses should have an opportunity to group together under a Chamber of Commerce, or some other entity that would allow them the advantages of larger numbers under health insurance plans for their employees. This has shown promise in the past.
Finally, we need to elect good, responsible Senators and Congressmen in Washington and get rid of those who have helped to create or have done little to address the REAL current healthcare system problems. This is not a party or political issue, we just need to get better people in Washington representing us. If there is anything that has been revealed through our current national crisis is that we need better representation.
A federal healthcare system would be a total disaster for the United States and consolidate too much power at the federal level to the detriment of our democracy. We currently have a very good healthcare system in America, all we need to do is fine tune it. The measures above are suggested.
The drive toward a national healthcare system is based upon false premises. The number of the current uninsured is grossly exaggerated and this is confirmed by credible independent sources such as the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and several others. The claim that the costs will be budget neutral are also false. Any logical thinking person knows that the costs to our nation will be immense, with the burden thrust upon taxpayers today and future generations. This also has been confirmed by the CBO and other independent assessments.
The dangers of the national healthcare plan are not hearsay, opinion or conjecture, but facts. It is well known that an irresponsible Congress does not even read legislation, but others have...every page, every word, of both the House and Senate plans. Those who have read it including doctors and other credible groups are sending strong alarms quoting specific inclusions in the legislation and what page they appear on.
Rather than a massive federally controlled healthcare system all we need to do is fine tune what we have. Most people are satisfied with their current healthcare (polls have shown this) and it is widely recognized that the United States has the best healthcare in the world. We need to reduce costs, provide coverage for those Americans who desire healthcare and do not have it, and unclog some of the current paperwork bureaucracy. We also need to provide more incentives for people to enter the medical profession.
Here is the suggested plan:
Put a limit on the amount of money in medical related lawsuits. Doctors currently pay exorbitant amounts of money for medical insurance, this can be significantly reduced.
Streamline and reduce paperwork for medical claims. A huge amount of cost and lack of focus on the primary medical purpose presently exists. This will also significantly reduce costs.
The cost of pharmaceutical products, drugs, have skyrocketed. This needs to be addressed, the current excuses for high cost should be questioned and action taken to reduce the high cost of drugs.
Hospital and medical center management needs to be improved significantly so that these costs can be significantly reduced. For example, there is a tendency to just pass on costs rather than run these entities as true businesses. There is a need to critically look at ALL suppliers in regard to quality and cost. An ongoing goal should be to reduce cost, and in return, reduce prices. There should also be more competiveness with these institutions in regard to pricing, quality and total value received by patients.
Place stronger control over pharmaceutical and medical / healthcare lobbies in Washington that serve to heap billions upon billions on dollars on our nations healthcare costs through special interest legislation that does not help but only hinders and compounds the problem. This influence needs to be curtailed, it is damaging America.
Where the government can help is by providing incentives toward needed medical specialties in our country by offering financial assistance to students in the various medical professions and other types of assistance.
While being very supportive to the medical profession and to those related to the healthcare industry, there also needs to be severe criminal penalties against those who commit medical fraud, or those who attempt to take advantage of our country's healthcare system. Medical fraud adds significant cost to our nations healthcare at present, this needs to be addressed.
We should use the significant cost savings of those measures mentioned above to provide medical coverage for those Americans who are poor or otherwise uninsured, who not by choice have lack insurance. Note this number is significantly less that currently claimed. There may be some who are wealthy or for other reasons desire not to have health insurance and that is their right in a free democracy.
While taking costs out of healthcare as mentioned, large businesses should be offered tax incentives for offering good healthcare plans for their employees. Small businesses should have an opportunity to group together under a Chamber of Commerce, or some other entity that would allow them the advantages of larger numbers under health insurance plans for their employees. This has shown promise in the past.
Finally, we need to elect good, responsible Senators and Congressmen in Washington and get rid of those who have helped to create or have done little to address the REAL current healthcare system problems. This is not a party or political issue, we just need to get better people in Washington representing us. If there is anything that has been revealed through our current national crisis is that we need better representation.
A federal healthcare system would be a total disaster for the United States and consolidate too much power at the federal level to the detriment of our democracy. We currently have a very good healthcare system in America, all we need to do is fine tune it. The measures above are suggested.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Deval Patrick Driving Massachusetts to Ruin
Governor Deval Patrick is driving the state of Massachusetts into ruin. Unemployment is at 8.6% and rising. The private sector (non government jobs) is now approaching 11% unemployment. He did not manage our state budget, and there are 3 major problems with the $5 billion shortfall. First, he is relying upon $1.8 billion in federal bail out money. This is like a drug, since you get it once, then you become dependent upon it, and you really haven't solved the fundamental problem in managing the state's finances. Secondly, you squeeze the taxpayers and businesses out of money with taxes, tolls, fees, and hidden charges associated with legislation. Third, the projected income in the Patrick budget is not realistic, which makes the $5 billion shortfall even greater. It is a guarantee as fiscal year 2010 proceeds that income shortfalls will become apparent and reported.
Retailers, to no avail, have warned Patrick and our legislators about loss of business due to increased taxes. Some businesses will close, some will move out of state, some will just record lower sales and profits. This all compounds the state's financial crisis. Contrary to what has been reported, the income generating population of Massachusetts has decreased. This also has a detrimental impact upon state finances. This means less income for the state, but also means more pay-out to the non income generating population which is increasing.
Deval Patrick has not shown the ability to make the tough decisions to manage the state's budget. He relies on smooth glib talk and lip service, and ineffective budget actions that are far from what is necessary. In addition, and very disappointing, the legislature is failing to speak up and take action, and is not representing the people of the state.
The people of Massachusetts should be alarmed. The media needs to ask the tough questions and do the investigative reporting in order to bring to light the true and significant financial crisis facing the state of Massachusetts. Sate Senator, Steven Panagiotakos, declared that our current financial crisis is one of the worst in our history. He is right. This is not the time for silence.
Retailers, to no avail, have warned Patrick and our legislators about loss of business due to increased taxes. Some businesses will close, some will move out of state, some will just record lower sales and profits. This all compounds the state's financial crisis. Contrary to what has been reported, the income generating population of Massachusetts has decreased. This also has a detrimental impact upon state finances. This means less income for the state, but also means more pay-out to the non income generating population which is increasing.
Deval Patrick has not shown the ability to make the tough decisions to manage the state's budget. He relies on smooth glib talk and lip service, and ineffective budget actions that are far from what is necessary. In addition, and very disappointing, the legislature is failing to speak up and take action, and is not representing the people of the state.
The people of Massachusetts should be alarmed. The media needs to ask the tough questions and do the investigative reporting in order to bring to light the true and significant financial crisis facing the state of Massachusetts. Sate Senator, Steven Panagiotakos, declared that our current financial crisis is one of the worst in our history. He is right. This is not the time for silence.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Healthcare, The Right Way
The United States has the best healthcare system in the world. All it needs is fine tuning with an attack on the root causes of cost and the reduction in bureaucratic paperwork. What it DOESN"T need is a massive ongoing trillion dollar federal takeover of healthcare, that would be a disaster.
Misleading numbers have been used. The claim is that there are 47 million people are without healthcare coverage. Out of that number 9.1 million people who earn $75,000 a year or more chose not to have healthcare insurance, even though they can afford it. The Pew Hispanic Center estimates that 59% of the nations illegal immigrants are uninsured, or about 7.1 million people. This means that effectively 90% of Americans, who want it, have health insurance. Further, for the most part, these 90% are very satisfied with their coverage. These are the real facts.
We need to attack the root cause of costs. First there needs to be a limit on medical malpractice dollar awards and correspondingly a significant reduction in medical insurance payments necessary by doctors. The cost of pharmaceutical products, drugs, have skyrocketed. This needs to be addressed, the current excuses for high cost should be questioned and action taken to reduce the high cost of drugs. Hospital and medical center management needs to be improved significantly so that these costs can be significantly reduced. It is nothing short of ridiculous to pay up to $25 for the dispensing of 2 aspirins and there are many other similar charges to patients and medical insurance companies.
Bureaucratic paperwork needs to be significantly reduced and streamlined. This paperwork costs a significant amount of money, better ways are available to reduce these costs. Finally and very importantly the healthcare and pharmaceutical lobbies in Washington need to be placed under control. Billions upon billions of dollars are heaped upon the nations healthcare costs due to these lobbies, which serve to drive up the total costs of healthcare in the United States.
With an attack on costs we can then address the issues with our current healthcare system and fix them, including providing for those who cannot afford healthcare. It is possible to be compassionate toward taking care of the medical needs of all Americans, while at the same time being both cost effective and smart on how we do it.
The current direction toward a massive, extremely high cost, and what surely will amount to an ineffective national healthcare system is the wrong one. We need to do things right for a change.
Misleading numbers have been used. The claim is that there are 47 million people are without healthcare coverage. Out of that number 9.1 million people who earn $75,000 a year or more chose not to have healthcare insurance, even though they can afford it. The Pew Hispanic Center estimates that 59% of the nations illegal immigrants are uninsured, or about 7.1 million people. This means that effectively 90% of Americans, who want it, have health insurance. Further, for the most part, these 90% are very satisfied with their coverage. These are the real facts.
We need to attack the root cause of costs. First there needs to be a limit on medical malpractice dollar awards and correspondingly a significant reduction in medical insurance payments necessary by doctors. The cost of pharmaceutical products, drugs, have skyrocketed. This needs to be addressed, the current excuses for high cost should be questioned and action taken to reduce the high cost of drugs. Hospital and medical center management needs to be improved significantly so that these costs can be significantly reduced. It is nothing short of ridiculous to pay up to $25 for the dispensing of 2 aspirins and there are many other similar charges to patients and medical insurance companies.
Bureaucratic paperwork needs to be significantly reduced and streamlined. This paperwork costs a significant amount of money, better ways are available to reduce these costs. Finally and very importantly the healthcare and pharmaceutical lobbies in Washington need to be placed under control. Billions upon billions of dollars are heaped upon the nations healthcare costs due to these lobbies, which serve to drive up the total costs of healthcare in the United States.
With an attack on costs we can then address the issues with our current healthcare system and fix them, including providing for those who cannot afford healthcare. It is possible to be compassionate toward taking care of the medical needs of all Americans, while at the same time being both cost effective and smart on how we do it.
The current direction toward a massive, extremely high cost, and what surely will amount to an ineffective national healthcare system is the wrong one. We need to do things right for a change.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Obama Apology Uninformed
Simply stated President Obama doesn't know what he is talking about when he recently apologized by saying "the U.S. has fallen short of meeting our responsibilities." The real truth is that the United States led the way internationally through the Environmental Protection Agency regulations and actions. During the 80's and 90's I was involved in the management of a manufacturing company that did business internationally. We did detailed competitive analysis and found out that while we had significant costs in environmental protection, European companies and even Japanese companies, did not. This placed us at a competitive disadvantage as far as cost since we were responsible and they were not.
As further proof, our company built a brand new, state of the art, manufacturing plant in England. In the United States the EPA had strict regulations, rigorously enforced, that required environmental protection on any new facility. Yet in England there were no air quality regulations, we were under no requirements for air quality protection and the associated costs to do so. We were responsible and put them in anyway, investing over $1.5 million.
While the United Sates had strict air pollution control on motor vehicles, Italy, as one example, had none. American school children while visiting Italy, particularly in heavy traffic areas such as Rome, would get sore throats due to the dirty air vs. cleaner air they were used to in the U.S. As a further indication of poor air quality, statues in Rome, some of historic value, became blackened due to soot and dirty air. Only then did they take action. This fact appeared in Italian newspapers.
The United States is criticized for not participating in the Kyoto Protocol. Yet the Protocol amounts to near insanity and would be a major net negative to the environment. Out of the 182 parties that have ratified the agreement, 146 of them are given the ability to pollute-at-will. This includes countries like China and India that are involved in major and massive industrialization.
Yet at the same time the UN initiated Kyoto Protocol is targeted specifically at throttling an already decimated U.S. manufacturing and would impose significant economic damage on the U.S. economy. Costs have been estimated at over $300 billion per year. Further, targets and timetables imposed on the United States were impractical from even a technological standpoint. Still further, severe penalties imposed for not meeting the targets would serve only to further damage the U.S. economy and decimate American manufacturing.
Anyone that has been involved in environmental programs knows that it is the exact opposite of what needs to be done in order to make progress in protecting the environment. The United States, in fact, has had it right for many years. The EPA and many of the state environmental protection agencies require new manufacturing sites and new sources to be designed and built with current state of the art environmental controls as part of the start up. What this does is head off even further pollution of the environment while at the same time placing aggressive, but rational reduction targets on existing sources. If done properly this can and will reduce harmful environmental emissions. Kyoto Protocol on the other hand by allowing China and India (and many others) to pollute-at-will while they are going through massive industrialization will cause a situation where catch up many years down the line will be extremely difficult, if not impossible. This will without question result in a net negative for the environment. Even today, both China and India absolutely refuse to do anything to halt air pollution or anything else in regard to environmental responsibility. With them, it isn't even on the table for discussion.
Mr. Obama, you are flat out wrong. The United States should be proud of it's record of environmental protection through the EPA and state environmental protection agencies. In many cases we led the way internationally. We should continue to do more. With a rational "protocol" it is possible to protect the environment and significantly reduce harmful emissions without severely damaging the economy and decimating the manufacturing of a country such as the United States. The answer is to put state of the art environmental controls on all new sources and manufacturing sites, while placing aggressive yet achievable reduction goals on existing sites. The answer is to also invest in research and technology in order to come up with new product designs and environmental protection technology. This is a formula that has proven to work.
Americans should hold their heads up proud. No apologies are necessary.
As further proof, our company built a brand new, state of the art, manufacturing plant in England. In the United States the EPA had strict regulations, rigorously enforced, that required environmental protection on any new facility. Yet in England there were no air quality regulations, we were under no requirements for air quality protection and the associated costs to do so. We were responsible and put them in anyway, investing over $1.5 million.
While the United Sates had strict air pollution control on motor vehicles, Italy, as one example, had none. American school children while visiting Italy, particularly in heavy traffic areas such as Rome, would get sore throats due to the dirty air vs. cleaner air they were used to in the U.S. As a further indication of poor air quality, statues in Rome, some of historic value, became blackened due to soot and dirty air. Only then did they take action. This fact appeared in Italian newspapers.
The United States is criticized for not participating in the Kyoto Protocol. Yet the Protocol amounts to near insanity and would be a major net negative to the environment. Out of the 182 parties that have ratified the agreement, 146 of them are given the ability to pollute-at-will. This includes countries like China and India that are involved in major and massive industrialization.
Yet at the same time the UN initiated Kyoto Protocol is targeted specifically at throttling an already decimated U.S. manufacturing and would impose significant economic damage on the U.S. economy. Costs have been estimated at over $300 billion per year. Further, targets and timetables imposed on the United States were impractical from even a technological standpoint. Still further, severe penalties imposed for not meeting the targets would serve only to further damage the U.S. economy and decimate American manufacturing.
Anyone that has been involved in environmental programs knows that it is the exact opposite of what needs to be done in order to make progress in protecting the environment. The United States, in fact, has had it right for many years. The EPA and many of the state environmental protection agencies require new manufacturing sites and new sources to be designed and built with current state of the art environmental controls as part of the start up. What this does is head off even further pollution of the environment while at the same time placing aggressive, but rational reduction targets on existing sources. If done properly this can and will reduce harmful environmental emissions. Kyoto Protocol on the other hand by allowing China and India (and many others) to pollute-at-will while they are going through massive industrialization will cause a situation where catch up many years down the line will be extremely difficult, if not impossible. This will without question result in a net negative for the environment. Even today, both China and India absolutely refuse to do anything to halt air pollution or anything else in regard to environmental responsibility. With them, it isn't even on the table for discussion.
Mr. Obama, you are flat out wrong. The United States should be proud of it's record of environmental protection through the EPA and state environmental protection agencies. In many cases we led the way internationally. We should continue to do more. With a rational "protocol" it is possible to protect the environment and significantly reduce harmful emissions without severely damaging the economy and decimating the manufacturing of a country such as the United States. The answer is to put state of the art environmental controls on all new sources and manufacturing sites, while placing aggressive yet achievable reduction goals on existing sites. The answer is to also invest in research and technology in order to come up with new product designs and environmental protection technology. This is a formula that has proven to work.
Americans should hold their heads up proud. No apologies are necessary.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Treasurer Timothy Cahill, The Next Governor of Massachusetts
Finally somebody is Massachusetts state government is speaking up. Treasurer, Timothy P. Cahill, has recently stated the true condition of our state's financial crisis and the current administration's irresponsibility in managing it. Deval Patrick ran his campaign on slogans (Together We Can) and hype, and unfortunately the voters of Massachusetts fell for it. He continued with his slogans and hype after being elected, yet with little substance and little ability or willingness to manage our state. He was an instant hero by promising millions of dollars here, and billions of dollars there. Nowhere was it apparent where all this money was going to come from. When backed into a corner, he first tried the silver bullet of casino gambling. When that didn't work he turned to an increase in taxes, fees and tolls all at the expense of taxpayers. In addition, what taxpayers don't know is that there were all kinds of additional hidden "taxes" piggybacked onto legislation passed through the legislature. He is now in the process of squeezing essentially any money he can out of the taxpayers of Massachusetts.
The June 29, 2009 report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities showed a fiscal year 2010 pre-budget shortfall of $5 billion. This is now all coming out of the hide of Massachusetts taxpayers. Yet both parties of the legislature, with few exceptions, have essentially stood silent. Where is the voice of the people? Finally, someone in responsibility has spoken up. Treasurer, Timothy Cahill, has a bird's eye view of the states finances and is not only speaking up but is going to do something about it. He has stated what should have been obvious to all: "We're spending too much and taxing too high. I think we could have cut more and staved off that tax increase". He also said he would have balanced the $27 billion state budget. How refreshing!
If Timothy P. Cahill runs for governor based upon fiscal responsibility and common sense management of our state he will win in a landslide. Governor Patrick warns he must bring his A game. Well he doesn't have to bring any "game", he just needs to properly represent the citizens of our state, that are not being represented by the current administration, nor the current legislature, for that matter.
The June 29, 2009 report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities showed a fiscal year 2010 pre-budget shortfall of $5 billion. This is now all coming out of the hide of Massachusetts taxpayers. Yet both parties of the legislature, with few exceptions, have essentially stood silent. Where is the voice of the people? Finally, someone in responsibility has spoken up. Treasurer, Timothy Cahill, has a bird's eye view of the states finances and is not only speaking up but is going to do something about it. He has stated what should have been obvious to all: "We're spending too much and taxing too high. I think we could have cut more and staved off that tax increase". He also said he would have balanced the $27 billion state budget. How refreshing!
If Timothy P. Cahill runs for governor based upon fiscal responsibility and common sense management of our state he will win in a landslide. Governor Patrick warns he must bring his A game. Well he doesn't have to bring any "game", he just needs to properly represent the citizens of our state, that are not being represented by the current administration, nor the current legislature, for that matter.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Sarah Palin, The Real Story
Even before she was selected to be a Vice Presidential candidate she made sense. Interviewed outside of the main stream of media attention, she gave an interview that made a lot of sense on energy, oil, and the environment, something that you never hear from the typical Washington types…and it was refreshing. For those listening it caught people’s attention.
The best move, and in reality the only good move, made by the McCain run for the presidency was selecting Sarah Palin as his running mate. It was a sudden, refreshing, and popular shock to potential voters. A woman who was smart, articulate, good looking, with (the rare) experience in managing something, and with a good track record. The far left, democrats, the media, and even the republican elite began looking closer. What they soon found is that she was the antithesis of everything that they believed in, if she ever were to get elected it would turn back the clock on their vision of America and everything they had worked for. And what did they find?
Unfortunately what it revealed was an introspective look at where we are in America today, the reality of a very sad and shameful state that we have degenerated to. This could not be allowed.They found she had the deep faith and a belief in God, worse (to them) she is a Christian. Imagine a person practicing her faith with a belief in God! They also found that she is a family person with several children. A woman running for high office with a family? The critical and all important issue concerning her is that she is pro-life. She supports the right of a baby to live. Even worse, how could she give birth to a child who knowingly had Down Syndrome? What is the matter with her, why didn't she have an abortion? There is a way of getting rid of less than perfect children. And again, why did she allow her unmarried pregnant daughter to have a child? Abortion would have been so easy, this is the convenient way to deal with such a "problem". This is what they think. Eugenics and convenience should rule.
They found so much else wrong with her. She is patriotic and supports our troops, in fact she has a son who is serving in the military. And how dare her run for high office without an ivy league education? You know, the graduates of those “great” schools that have screwed up our country and given us the mess we are in today. She is a Christian, who believes in traditional marriage, family, country, life, state sovereignty, democracy, freedom, our Constitution, a rational approach to energy independence and the environment, secure borders, a strong national defense, …and so much more that is repulsive to the far left, democrats of today (not yesterday, they have changed), the media, and to some republican elites who have lost their way. Her family represents the quintessential American family with traditional values, living in rural Alaska.This could not be allowed, this could not happen to have her propel to national attention in a positive light, a sure thing to happen. They had to stop it.
The media, like vultures ascended to Alaska, not to find out more about Sarah Palin in an objective journalistic sense, but to find what dirt they could dig up…anything. Unfortunately as with the media today, if they can't find anything wrong, they will create something, and even lie if necessary, and that is exactly what they did. The prime objective was to destroy Sarah Palin, the end justifies the means, a well known far left mantra.
The McCain campaign didn't have a clue on how to utilize the great strength of Sarah Palin in a positive way that would have significantly helped. Senator McCain ran a very poor, mushy, unorganized campaign. People were looking for him to hit hard on the issues of terrorism, the economy, immigration, energy independence, etc. He also had tons of issues to raise about Barack Obama and his lack of experience, highly questionable associations with several radical people, his voting record in Illinois as well as the US Senate, his far left record and more. He failed to address any of these issues and the results speak for themselves. Those running his campaign, many republican elites, looked down their nose at Sarah Palin, she wasn't one of them. What they failed to realize, the American people DID NOT WANT one of them running for office!
Even with the presidential election over, the far left and the media want to make sure that Sarah Palin doesn't have a chance to rise again for a future opportunity for high office. Like never before in history, they have been on the attack, accusing her of everything imaginable, hurling insults not only insulting at her, but to all women. The have sought investigations on her in an all out attempt to discredit her. So desperate in their attack they have also attacked her family, fearful of what she represents. If she were not a public figure, the coordinated and collusive attacks border on criminal. Harassment, libel, slander, and even to some degree stalking.
These attacks were so massive and vicious that, yes, it did affect her family as well as her ability to perform her duties as Governor of Alaska. She and her family are not like the Clinton's and the Gore's with millions of dollars mysteriously and continually sifting through her hands, $500,000 personal debt spent to defend herself is a lot of money. She also cared about the disruption to her office of governor through this continual harassment and the cost to the state of over $2 million as a result of this. Unlike to what is being reported, it was a sign of strength, not of weakness, to resign as governor. This was done because she cares about the state of Alaska and doesn't want personal attacks on her to affect the smooth running of the state. This was also done to remove her family from the vicious attacks as an “in office” fair game political figure. This took great courage.
As far as future political high office, the media seems to prefer those who use their current elected political office as a platform, while selfishly shirking their present duties and obligation to their constituents, to seek higher office. You know, like using a US Senator position while campaigning for the Presidency of the United States for 4 years. Sarah Palin on the other hand is honest about her intentions. Sarah Palin is her own person and that should be highly admired. The far left, some democrats, and the media of course are going to attack her no mater what she does. Most people, however, love her and find her to be very refreshing. She will be formidable and that is what they are afraid of. The talking heads don't understand an honest and sincere person and look for all kinds of excuses and ways to criticize her honesty and integrity….simply because they don't understand it. They want her to act as everybody else does. That isn't Sarah Palin.
Whatever Sarah Palin chooses to do in the future, she will do well. She cares about her family, she cares about the sate of Alaska, she cares about her country. She has the inner strength and courage to continue to do what she thinks is right, in spite of all opposition. It will be interesting to see all the media types eat their words when she succeeds.
I am betting on Sarah Palin.
The best move, and in reality the only good move, made by the McCain run for the presidency was selecting Sarah Palin as his running mate. It was a sudden, refreshing, and popular shock to potential voters. A woman who was smart, articulate, good looking, with (the rare) experience in managing something, and with a good track record. The far left, democrats, the media, and even the republican elite began looking closer. What they soon found is that she was the antithesis of everything that they believed in, if she ever were to get elected it would turn back the clock on their vision of America and everything they had worked for. And what did they find?
Unfortunately what it revealed was an introspective look at where we are in America today, the reality of a very sad and shameful state that we have degenerated to. This could not be allowed.They found she had the deep faith and a belief in God, worse (to them) she is a Christian. Imagine a person practicing her faith with a belief in God! They also found that she is a family person with several children. A woman running for high office with a family? The critical and all important issue concerning her is that she is pro-life. She supports the right of a baby to live. Even worse, how could she give birth to a child who knowingly had Down Syndrome? What is the matter with her, why didn't she have an abortion? There is a way of getting rid of less than perfect children. And again, why did she allow her unmarried pregnant daughter to have a child? Abortion would have been so easy, this is the convenient way to deal with such a "problem". This is what they think. Eugenics and convenience should rule.
They found so much else wrong with her. She is patriotic and supports our troops, in fact she has a son who is serving in the military. And how dare her run for high office without an ivy league education? You know, the graduates of those “great” schools that have screwed up our country and given us the mess we are in today. She is a Christian, who believes in traditional marriage, family, country, life, state sovereignty, democracy, freedom, our Constitution, a rational approach to energy independence and the environment, secure borders, a strong national defense, …and so much more that is repulsive to the far left, democrats of today (not yesterday, they have changed), the media, and to some republican elites who have lost their way. Her family represents the quintessential American family with traditional values, living in rural Alaska.This could not be allowed, this could not happen to have her propel to national attention in a positive light, a sure thing to happen. They had to stop it.
The media, like vultures ascended to Alaska, not to find out more about Sarah Palin in an objective journalistic sense, but to find what dirt they could dig up…anything. Unfortunately as with the media today, if they can't find anything wrong, they will create something, and even lie if necessary, and that is exactly what they did. The prime objective was to destroy Sarah Palin, the end justifies the means, a well known far left mantra.
The McCain campaign didn't have a clue on how to utilize the great strength of Sarah Palin in a positive way that would have significantly helped. Senator McCain ran a very poor, mushy, unorganized campaign. People were looking for him to hit hard on the issues of terrorism, the economy, immigration, energy independence, etc. He also had tons of issues to raise about Barack Obama and his lack of experience, highly questionable associations with several radical people, his voting record in Illinois as well as the US Senate, his far left record and more. He failed to address any of these issues and the results speak for themselves. Those running his campaign, many republican elites, looked down their nose at Sarah Palin, she wasn't one of them. What they failed to realize, the American people DID NOT WANT one of them running for office!
Even with the presidential election over, the far left and the media want to make sure that Sarah Palin doesn't have a chance to rise again for a future opportunity for high office. Like never before in history, they have been on the attack, accusing her of everything imaginable, hurling insults not only insulting at her, but to all women. The have sought investigations on her in an all out attempt to discredit her. So desperate in their attack they have also attacked her family, fearful of what she represents. If she were not a public figure, the coordinated and collusive attacks border on criminal. Harassment, libel, slander, and even to some degree stalking.
These attacks were so massive and vicious that, yes, it did affect her family as well as her ability to perform her duties as Governor of Alaska. She and her family are not like the Clinton's and the Gore's with millions of dollars mysteriously and continually sifting through her hands, $500,000 personal debt spent to defend herself is a lot of money. She also cared about the disruption to her office of governor through this continual harassment and the cost to the state of over $2 million as a result of this. Unlike to what is being reported, it was a sign of strength, not of weakness, to resign as governor. This was done because she cares about the state of Alaska and doesn't want personal attacks on her to affect the smooth running of the state. This was also done to remove her family from the vicious attacks as an “in office” fair game political figure. This took great courage.
As far as future political high office, the media seems to prefer those who use their current elected political office as a platform, while selfishly shirking their present duties and obligation to their constituents, to seek higher office. You know, like using a US Senator position while campaigning for the Presidency of the United States for 4 years. Sarah Palin on the other hand is honest about her intentions. Sarah Palin is her own person and that should be highly admired. The far left, some democrats, and the media of course are going to attack her no mater what she does. Most people, however, love her and find her to be very refreshing. She will be formidable and that is what they are afraid of. The talking heads don't understand an honest and sincere person and look for all kinds of excuses and ways to criticize her honesty and integrity….simply because they don't understand it. They want her to act as everybody else does. That isn't Sarah Palin.
Whatever Sarah Palin chooses to do in the future, she will do well. She cares about her family, she cares about the sate of Alaska, she cares about her country. She has the inner strength and courage to continue to do what she thinks is right, in spite of all opposition. It will be interesting to see all the media types eat their words when she succeeds.
I am betting on Sarah Palin.
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