Tag Archives: Obamacare

Economy, Energy, Europe, Obamacare, Politics

Mexico’s Energy Reform, Introduce Private Enterprise

The United States isn’t the only country in the hemisphere suffering from an incoherent energy policy. An effective energy policy is one that gets energy instead of one that won’t use all energy resources available.Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto listens to an attendee at the annual Allen and Co. conference at the Sun Valley

Mexico’s problem . . .

Mexico is the world’s 10th-biggest producer of crude oil, according to OPEC data, yet output has fallen by a quarter since hitting peak production of 3.4 million barrels per day in 2004. The country also is a top oil exporter to the United States but has to import nearly half of its gasoline due to a lack of domestic refining capacity.

Our problem? We haven’t built a new refinery in decades. The government limits the energy industry by restricting access to available resources to the bidding of regulatory agencies and special interests whose goals, although noble, are not ready for prime time nor economically feasible at this time. Not only that, but the oil industry has become deformed as a private enterprise, a result of growing government intervention.

Parallels abound between the role government plays in United States and that of Europe and Mexico. Economically, Europe, and toss Russia into the mix too, is introducing more capitalism, private sector business and ownership, as a way to raise them from the economic malaise that their socialist models have produced. On the energy front, Mexico is looking to change from their total government-controlled and owned energy sector to one that, for the first time, introduces private enterprise into the mix.

The teachable moment here is where we, as a country, are going wrong. Economically, we are trying to go to a place that from experience, Europe is trying to get away from. On the energy front, the political party in power is inclined to nationalizing the energy industry whether by fiat or through regulatory agencies. The opposite to what, from experience, Mexico sees as a solution.

It’s been proven it can be done. They just took the health care industry, sixteen percent of our entire economy. And just like in Mexico, there are challenges to making real reform. We should know why Europe and Mexico envy what we have accomplished under free-market capitalism. Which is why we should resist any changes that take us to a place from which they are running.

Link: Mexico energy reform due this week, debate over contracts

Media, Obamacare, Organized Labor, Politics

Congress Asks For, And Gets Exemption From Obamacare

Taxpayers will continue to subsidize the health insurance of members of congress and the staffers that work for them at 75% of the premium. Contrary to what the legislation says, they won’t have to get the same Hear no evil see no evil speak no evil post no evilinsurance that we do. It’s more thumbing their nose at the folks by this administration. Not only has the word “fair” been stricken from the issue, but breaking the law to do it is no big deal. Obama is above the law, and no media is holding him to account.

It’s hard to find any sympathy for the members and their aides when they make from $75,000 to $170,000 a year. And they can’t afford the Affordable Care Act?  And we have to continue to pay 75% of their health insurance? Really?

The scandal is just exacerbated by the silence of the mainstream media. Can you imagine them being quiet about this if there was an R in The White House?

Oh but wait! There is another group in line for a quid pro quo from the President when it comes to Obamacare, aka the Affordable Care Act. Big Labor can’t afford it either. You know, those workers that sold their souls to union bosses and make upwards of 20 and 30 dollars an hour? Now that they’ve found out what’s in it, they don’t like it either. They don’t want to lose the health insurance that Obama said they wouldn’t lose. And they don’t want to have to pay an additional tax because they have a so-called Cadillac plan. Yep, they’ll be next, and Obama will break the law and exempt them. And the media will just grin at that one too.

Link: Congress’s ObamaCare Exemption

Obamacare, Politics

A Miracle Hits Washington

In response to Republicans and some Democrats wanting to de-fund the unaffordable Affordable Care Act, the President flippantly remarks that “they haven’t an alternative”

Well what do you know. The “no alternative” just picked up another co-sponsor. Rep. Tom Rice (R-NC7) signed on as a co-sponsor to H.R.2300, AKA the Empowering Patients First Act of 2013.

It’s some kind of miracle that a bill that, according to the Community Organizer In Chief (President Obama), doesn’t exist can also have co-sponsors.

You, and President Obama, can follow the bill HERE.

Link: H.R. 2300: Empowering Patients First Act of 2013

Economy, Energy, Florida, Gun Control, Immigration, Judiciary, Obamacare, Organized Labor, Politics, Race Relations

“Could Have Been Me 35 Years Ago”

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Two can play that game Mr. President.

If you were Trayvon 35 years ago, it would have spared the country from . . .

  • record unemployment
  • a stagnant economy
  • high energy prices
  • high food prices
  • union bailouts
  • a move towards socialism
  • Obamacare
  • the dilution of “equal justice under the law” with your inclination toward “social justice” and “racial justice”
  • your lawless administration that selectively enforces laws, especially current immigration laws
  • your Attorney General ignoring voting rights laws (New Black Panthers in Philadelphia)
  • your dozens of unaccountable Czars
  • using the Federal Govt. and its agencies to oppress (and attack, George Zimmerman) the citizens
  • abuse of voting and first amendment rights (IRS)
  • attacks on second amendment rights
  • racial tensions fueled by you not seen since the 60’s.
  • Did I mention voting rights abuse?

2008 Election, 2012 Election, Economy, Energy, Immigration, Media, Obamacare, Organized Labor, Politics, Race Relations

So You Think Republicans Are Racist?

That anyone who opposed anything Barack Obama would do would be labeled a racist came as no surprise. This was obvious long before his 2008 election. Playing the race card is what democrats do. It’s their way to dismiss the issues because of skin color, rather than debate them. That republicans don’t stand up against the hateful attacks is another subject. Basically, and to their detriment, their moral standards prevent them from going there. But this is what needs to be said.

Here’s what people would have to believe of republicans if they fall for the classless playing of the race card.

  • We would be more than willing to welcome cap-and-trade with open arms, even if we paid a thousand dollars or more extra every year for our energy use, if Barack Obama were only white.
  • We would be dancing in the streets celebrating the dawning of government control of our health care if only Barack Obama were white.
  • It would be just dandy if government bureaucrats rationed health care for our parents, as long as the president is white.
  • We would jump at the chance of the government owning ALL of the auto manufacturing companies .. not just General Motors … if the president just didn’t have dark skin.
  • We would applaud those ACORN workers giving tax avoidance advice to a pimp and his prostitute if the workers hadn’t been black.
  • Most Americans – even ones that don’t pay income taxes now – would be more than willing to give 70% of everything they earn to the federal government when asked … so long as they are asked by a white president.
  • We would have been thrilled, I tell you … THRILLED to have all of those Islamic goons being held at Guantanamo be not only released, but sent to be school resource officers at our local government schools, if only a white president put that plan in motion.
  • It would be OK if a white president stood back and allowed Iran to build its coveted nukes … we’re only unhappy about that because a black president is doing it.
  • Deficits? We don’t care about deficits! Make our children and grand children and great grand children pay through the nose for our president’s spending habits … just so long as the president isn’t black.
  • Government pork? Like we actually care? Look … you folks in Washington can spend all the money you want – how about more studies of the mating habits of Polish Zlotnika pigs? – just make sure it’s not a black president who signs the spending bill into law.
  • We wouldn’t care if all illegal aliens were counted twice in the next Census … just so long as the president isn’t black.
  • Those Black Panther thugs who threatened voters in Philly? The ONLY reason we’re upset that they were given a pass is because Barack Obama is black.
  • Every single member of the president’s cabinet could be a tax cheat as far as we’re concerned … just so long as the president is white.
  • Forced unionization? Bring it on! We love card check! We love the idea of union goons threatening and intimidating workers to sign a card saying they want to belong to a union! What we don’t like is that a black president is pushing this idea.
  • Single-party talks with that Gargoyle that runs North Korea? It’s about time we legitimized that little pipsqueak. We’re only mildly upset here because the person who is doing that happens to be black.
  • More regulation of the finance sector? We could care less! For all we care you can nationalize the banks and decree that only the government can make home loans .. .and you can even apportion those home loans on the basis of race if you want to … just so long as the president is white!
  • Minimum wage? Like we care about that? Raise it to $15 an hour if you want! Just give us our white president back.

So the next time you hear the racist accusations pour from the lips of the likes of Chris Matthews, Nancy Pelosi, Al Sharpton, Bill Maher, Joe Scarborough, Whoopie Goldberg, Colin Powell, Janine Garofolo, Mike Papantonio, Larry Flint, Chuck Todd, Joy Behar, Ed Schultz, Bill Cosby, Patrick L. Cooney, Karen Finney, Cher, Maxine Waters, Barbara Lee, Julian Bond, Lawrence O’Donnell, Candy Crowley, David Shuster, Rev. William Barber, Jesse Jackson, Charles Rangel, Morgan Freeman, and Mike Malloy, just realize what an imbecile they are.

Economy, Florida, Media, Obamacare, Pensacola, Politics

In Support Of Private Sector Health Insurance

The hubris of supporters, media included, of the Affordable Health Care Act, aka Obamacare, never ceases to amaze me. It begins to look foolish when deception is combined with ignorance. Case in point is writers like these who demagogue the private health insurance industry, portraying them as greedy corporatist one-percenters. Their buzz words. Making money hand over fist.

The health insurance industry isn’t the one to demonize for having excessive profits. On its face, that anyone has the right to decide whether a profit is excessive is preposterous. That’s what fascist economic models are all about. In a free-market economy, consumers, not politicians,  decide who survives and who fails in the marketplace. And the profits, if any, are for the owners and investors, the ones who took the risk to offer a product, or service, to sell. Their profits do not belong to the government. Works that way in every industry not government-controlled. Former lefty talk show host Sen. Al Franken and current lefty talk show host Mike Papantonio can tell you about the ups and downs (mostly downs) of Air America Radio.

Lefty Huffington Post declares “Insurer Profits Are Up In The Wake Of Health Care Law They Oppose.” That, referring to a Bloomberg article entitled “Insurers Profit From Health Law They Fought Against.” Which morphs into this on far left Ring of Fire Radio1, “Health Insurance Make Threats to Spike Rate, Despite Record Profits.”

Faced with the reality that Obamacare is going to force insurance carriers to raise their premiums or go out of business, the meme is all about those mean rich insurance companies, already raking it in, and wanting to gouge consumers even more. One problem, and here’s where the ignorance and demagoguery comes in. The articles wrap their argument around net income and operating profit margins. Neither of which are net profit.

They don’t know what they’re talking about, and they’re spreading a false narrative to demonize insurers and idolize Obamacare.

What is a profit margin? It is the percentage of the income that is left over after all expenses. The numbers in the HuffPost/Bloomberg source are of operating margins and do not include expenses like interest payments, tax, depreciation, and amortization. After paying those expenses, you are left with the net, as in last, profit margin.

The profit margin for the Health Care Insurance industry is 3.5%. Ask yourself how they are to stay in business when the federal government under Obamacare expects them to hold or lower premiums, accept all pre-existing conditions, and add 20 or 30 million more policyholders on a 3.5% margin? It can’t happen. And that is Obama’s intent. It will cause the health insurance providers to drop that part of their business and insure something else or just fold. At that point, Obama reaches nirvana. A total single-payer government-run health care system that will be less efficient and more expensive than ever.

To add a little perspective that the Left doesn’t want you to know, here are the profit margins of other industries.

  • Beverages 25.9%. Included in that percentage are Breweries 37.3%, Soft Drinks 13%
  • Biotechnologies 16.1%
  • Banks 13.7%
  • Oil & Gas Drilling and Exploration 10.3%
  • Gas Utilities 7.7%
  • Food 7.2%
  • Electric Utilities4.9%
  • Oil & Gas Pipeline 4.1%
  • Health Care Plan Providers 3.5%

Law firms go from 5% to 60%, and average out at 30%. Wouldn’t it be interesting to know how greedy, by their own standards, the Levin-Papantonio Law Firm is? Makes one wonder what their profit margin is?

endofstory

1Ring of Fire is hosted by Mike Papantonio, senior partner in the Levin-Papantonio Law Firm in Pensacola, FL. Specializing in mass torts, suing drug companies, car manufacturers, tobacco companies, personal injury, product liability, medical malpractice, slip and falls, and more.

Obamacare, Politics

What A ‘Death Panel’ Looks Like

There are death panels. It’s called ‘red tape’ and it has the face of Health & hhs_sec_kathleen_sebelius_death_panelHuman Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

Secretary Sebelius has turned down appeals to overrule a federal regulation that could sarah_friendsave the life of a 10-year girl who desperately needs a lung transplant or faces dying in the next three to five weeks.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius described her decision as ‘incredibly agonizing’ when she told a congressional panel on Tuesday that she won’t intervene in a transplant decision to save a dying Pennsylvania girl. Sarah Murnaghan doesn’t qualify for an adult lung transplant until the age of 12, according to federal regulations, Sebelius has the authority to waive that rule on her behalf. Death Panel.

In reply to an appeal to suspend the 12 yr. limit made by Rep. Lou Barletta on behalf of 10 yr. old Sarah, Sebelius said “I would suggest, sir, that, again, this is an incredibly agonizing situation where someone lives and someone dies.”

Link: Daily Mail

2010 Election, 2012 Election, 2016 Election, Obamacare, Organized Labor, Politics

Gov’t Wages War On Opposition Party

You would be making a mistake to say that President Obama is the Commander-in-Chief of this war against Conservatives and Republicans. His fingerprints are not there.

All this IRS and DOJ abuse is indicative of the appointment of fellow travelers in those departments. A day after the head of the National Treasury Employees Union, Colleen Kelley, was at The White House, the IRS began to single out Tea Party organizations. What we are witnessing is Liberalism, capital L, pure and simple.

The answer is not impeaching Obama. The answer is repeating in 2014 and 2016 what we did in 2010. Taking the White House and replacing the department heads. Not to do to them what they did to us. But to get government back to doing what it should be doing. The Liberal infestation in government needs to be exterminated.

LiberalismPIX

It was Obamacare that spawned Tea Party opposition all across the country. It was the shellacking Democrats got in the 2010 mid-terms that shocked them into gear. Using government agencies to stop, if not suppress the competition was at play leading up to the 2012 election. Conservative non-profits were denied, through years of foot-dragging by the IRS, a chance to form and mobilize. Conservative donors were being audited by the IRS, Dept. of Labor, and EPA. While progressive non-profits got approved within weeks, whether they had a physical address or not.

Because of this, the President can claim ignorance. He wasn’t told. Oh how awful it was he will say. And he’ll also say that he’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again. That’s the M.O.

With every State, House, and Senate election from now until 2016, just make sure “we don’t get fooled again.”

Whether this is a smoking gun remains to be seen. But see if you can connect any dots.

According to the White House Visitors Log, provided here in searchable form by U.S. News and World Report, the president of the anti-Tea Party National Treasury Employees Union, Colleen Kelley, visited the White House at 12:30pm that Wednesday noon time of March 31st.

The White House lists the IRS union leader’s visit this way:

Kelley, Colleen Potus 03/31/2010 12:30

In White House language, “POTUS” stands for “President of the United States.”

The very next day after her White House meeting with the President, according to the Treasury Department’s Inspector General’s Report, IRS employees — the same employees who belong to the NTEU — set to work in earnest targeting the Tea Party and conservative groups around America. The IG report wrote it up this way:

April 1-2, 2010: The new Acting Manager, Technical Unit, suggested the need for a Sensitive Case Report on the Tea Party cases. The Determinations Unit Program Manager Agreed.

In short: the very day after the president of the quite publicly anti-Tea Party labor union — the union for IRS employees — met with President Obama, the manager of the IRS “Determinations Unit Program agreed” to open a “Sensitive Case report on the Tea party cases.” As stated by the IG report.

Isn’t that special?

Links: Obama and the IRS: The Smoking Gun?  | IRS boss knew about the targeting of Tea Party for a year – President Obama calls their actions ‘outrageous’

 

Gun Control, Media, Obamacare, Politics, Whiners

Second Amendment Survives First Round

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The Obama administration’s first attempt at incrementally limiting the 2nd Amendment went down in bi-partisan defeat in the Senate. Walter and Joe Biden are visibly upset.

obama_biden_gun_bill_fail_2

To prey on the emotions of victims is standard operating procedure for bleeding-heart liberals. That goes without saying. But what’s interesting to me about this performance yesterday is the audacity and arrogance he displays, and whining, over losing his first attempt at putting limits on the second amendment.

But instead of supporting this compromise, the gun lobby and its allies willfully lied about the bill. They claimed that it would create some sort of “big brother” gun registry, even though the bill did the opposite. This legislation, in fact, outlawed any registry. Plain and simple, right there in the text. But that didn’t matter. And unfortunately, this pattern of spreading untruths about this legislation served a purpose, because those lies upset an intense minority of gun owners, and that in turn intimidated a lot of senators.

Making the gun lobby the bogeyman is expected. It is the American people who know, and have seen, what can be accomplished by incrementalism when it comes to legislation. This was but the first step. For him to accuse anyone of lying to the American people is the pot calling the kettle black when he says “this pattern of spreading untruths about this legislation served a purpose.” He should know, beginning with the so-called Affordable Health Care Act when he told the American people “I will not sign a bill that adds one dime to the deficit.” On Obama’s part, he knew he was lying. He knew that if it was repeated enough, with the support of the media, that the American people would believe his lies. They bought it. But since the Congress didn’t, states had to be bribed and the bill had to be forced through without a proper vote to get it enacted. Who’s to say he won’t try the same shenanigans with ‘gun’ control?

The only difference here is, gun rights folks know what Obama’s end-game is. It didn’t have to be spelled out in the legislation. Democrats have openly said they want to effectively disarm law-abiding citizens, since they can’t disarm criminals.

Below is the whiner and liar-in-chief  from The Rose Garden.

Statement by the President Transcript

Economy, Florida, Immigration, Obamacare, Organized Labor, Pensacola, Politics

What’s Next For Big Labor?

Labor unions today have unknowingly fulfilled a self-fulfilling prophesy. By leveraging unfair practices upon workers to build union Labor-Unionsmembership, they did such a good job that they have lost their only reason to recruit.  Now they are left with ancient history, the mid twentieth century, to fall back on. And for the most part, no longer have a reason to exist.

BIG LABOR advocates say “Without America’s labor unions, we wouldn’t have many of the protections and benefits that we have today.” That’s a true statement. It was true 30 years ago too! Thanks to the ‘wake-up call’ delivered to employers by organized labor decades ago, which was “treat your people right or lose,” the labor movement has successfully put itself out of business so to speak. Their usefulness has diminished due to their earlier success as shown by their decreasing member rolls.

  • Total percentage private sector and public sector labor union workers: 2002 13.3%, 2012 11.3%
  • Percent of private sector labor union workers: 2002 8.6%, 2012 6.6%
  • Percent of public sector, government, labor union workers: 2002 37.3%, 2012 35.9%
  • Total number of union workers, public and private sector: 2002 16,145,000, 2012 14,366,000

Continue reading What’s Next For Big Labor? →