American imbalance -- Made in China (OneNewsNow.com)
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Sunday, August 23, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Saturday, August 8, 2009
We received this email from our friend Bud Hancock, Providence International
Charles Krauthammer: Fix torts, taxes to cut health costs
In 1986, Ronald Reagan and Bill Bradley created a legislative miracle. They fashioned a tax reform that stripped loopholes, political favors, payoffs, patronage and other corruptions out of the tax system. With the resulting savings, they lowered tax rates across the board. Those reductions, combined with the elimination of the enormous inefficiencies and perverse incentives that go into tax sheltering, helped propel a 20-year economic boom.
In overhauling any segment of our economy, the 1986 tax reform should be the model. Yet today's ruling Democrats propose to fix our extremely high quality (but inefficient and therefore expensive) health care system with 1,000 pages of additional curlicued complexity - employer mandates, individual mandates, insurance company mandates, allocation formulas, political payoffs and myriad other conjured regulations and interventions - with the promise that this massive concoction will lower costs.
This is all quite mad. It creates a Rube Goldberg system that simply multiplies the current inefficiencies and arbitrariness, thus producing staggering deficits with less choice and lower-quality care. That's why the administration can't sell Obamacare.
The administration's defense is to accuse critics of being for the status quo. Nonsense. Candidate John McCain and a host of other Republicans since have offered alternatives. Let me offer mine: Strip away current inefficiencies before remaking one-sixth of the U.S. economy. The plan is so simple it doesn't even have the requisite three parts. Just two: radical tort reform and radically severing the link between health insurance and employment.
1. Tort reform: As I wrote recently, our crazy system of casino malpractice suits results in massive and random settlements that raise everyone's insurance premiums and creates an epidemic of defensive medicine that does no medical good, yet costs a fortune.
An authoritative Massachusetts Medical Society study found that 5 out of 6 doctors admitted they order tests, procedures and referrals - amounting to about 25 percent of the total - solely as protection from lawsuits. Defensive medicine, estimates the libertarian/conservative Pacific Research Institute, wastes more than $200 billion a year. Just half that sum could provide a $5,000 health insurance grant - $20,000 for a family of four - to the uninsured poor (U.S. citizens ineligible for other government health assistance).
What to do? Abolish the entire medical-malpractice system. Create a new social pool from which people injured in medical errors or accidents can draw. The adjudication would be done by medical experts, not lay juries giving away lottery prizes at the behest of the liquid-tongued John Edwardses who pocket a third of the proceeds.
The pool would be funded by a relatively small tax on all health-insurance premiums. Socialize the risk; cut out the trial lawyers. Would that immunize doctors from carelessness or negligence? No. The penalty would be losing your medical license. There is no more serious deterrent than forfeiting a decade of intensive medical training and the livelihood that comes with it.
2. Real health-insurance reform: Tax employer-provided health care benefits and return the money to the employee with a government check to buy his own medical insurance, just as he buys his own car or home insurance.
There is no logical reason to get health insurance through your employer. This entire system is an accident of World War II wage and price controls. It's economically senseless. It makes people stay in jobs they hate, decreasing labor mobility and therefore overall productivity. And it needlessly increases the anxiety of losing your job by raising the additional specter of going bankrupt through illness.
The health care benefit exemption is the largest tax break in the entire U.S. budget, costing the government a quarter- trillion dollars annually. It hinders health-insurance security and portability as well as personal independence. If we additionally eliminated the prohibition on buying personal health insurance across state lines, that would inject new and powerful competition that would lower costs for everyone.
Repealing the exemption has one fatal flaw, however. It was advocated by McCain. Obama so demagogued it last year that he cannot bring it up now without being accused of the most extreme hypocrisy and without being mercilessly attacked with his own 2008 ads.
But that's a political problem of Obama's own making. As is the Democratic Party's indebtedness to the trial lawyers, which has taken malpractice reform totally off the table. But that doesn't change the logic of my proposal. Go the Reagan-Bradley route. Offer sensible, simple, yet radical reform that strips away inefficiencies from the existing system before adding Obamacare's new ones - arbitrary, politically driven, structural inventions whose consequence is certain financial ruin.
Write Charles Krauthammer at letters@charleskrauthammer.com
Friday, August 7, 2009
HealthCare reform
I received an email today forwarded by a local social worker - in response to a series of other forwarded emails regarding health-care reform:
"So before you vote, campaign or whatever it is you may do against abortion, first ask yourself, these questions:1. How many children without a family to love them have YOU adopted.2. How many children that you have seen that needed help, in one way or another, have you turned your back on; because it wasn't any of your business? BEFORE we debate if abortion is right or wrong, shouldn't we be sure that all the children that are already here in this world, wanting love from anyone that will give it, is given a home and a family. After we have fed, clothed, loved all the children that have already been brought into this world and there are still people willing, and able to take in more children, that the parents are unable to care for or simply cannot care for, then lets debate abortion. For now I want the choice to me mine. I can't imagine that you cannot trust me with a choice, and yet you would trust me with such a precious thing as a child! Obama is offering the country a way"
This hit too close to home - I felt compelled to reply, as follows:
Unwanted, neglected and abused children are certainly a huge concern for our community and nation as a whole. I would love to have a positive dialog on how we can help these children, and partner social services with citizens to help these children and families break the cycle. I'm quite certain, however, that abortion is not a viable alternative to positive action, nor its legalization is a worthy means of reducing abuse. According to our Bill of Rights, there are 'certain inalienable rights that are bestowed by the Creator'.... I can't see the right to abortion being one of them. However, the question here is not only about whether abortion is right or wrong, but additionally, whether we, as free citizens, should be forced to pay for someone else's 'choice'. I once had a choice to make, that personal choice would have forced California taxpayers to pay for my irresponsibility. When I was 17 years old (35 years ago), I got pregnant and went to planned parenthood. They gave me a pregnancy test and automatically scheduled an abortion, giving me the paperwork necessary to apply for MediCal, even though I was still a dependent on my parents' medical plan. Thanks to the providence of God, I was given information by BirthRight about what abortion actually involved, something Planned Parenthood did not have the courage to tell me. I decided not to abort, got married instead, and 35 years later have 4 children and 6 grandchildren. I lost my job last year, and am now self-employed because I couldn't find a job. I am the primary breadwinner - my husband (yes, same guy from 1974) is a stay-at-home Dad to our 12 year old. I lost my health coverage with my job, so now we pay $500 per month for a high deductible plan for our family. It is an HSA compatible plan, so if we happen to have some extra money, we put it into our health savings account in order to pay for any future doctor visits. Since we keep the money we don't use, there is an incentive to understand what our health care is costing us and to keep those cost to a minimum. We go to the doctor when we need to, not for every little sniffle. If more people became concerned with the cost of their own health care decisions, then health care costs would most likely come down. As direct payers to Doctors and other medical providers, we in a sense decide how much they get paid. By taking responsibility and paying for our own family's health care, we don't need to concern ourselves if we are paying for procedures that we object to, perhaps a faceless and nameless 17 year old somewhere getting an abortion..... Again, I would love to have a constructive and positive conversation about how to truly help abused, neglected children and assist needy families to obtain health care. I among many others believe we as citizens and neighbors need to step up to the plate and take action to contribute time and money directly to our local community needs, not through bureaucratic government systems where much of the end benefit is eaten up along the way. Blessings to all, Connie Schmaljohann
"So before you vote, campaign or whatever it is you may do against abortion, first ask yourself, these questions:1. How many children without a family to love them have YOU adopted.2. How many children that you have seen that needed help, in one way or another, have you turned your back on; because it wasn't any of your business? BEFORE we debate if abortion is right or wrong, shouldn't we be sure that all the children that are already here in this world, wanting love from anyone that will give it, is given a home and a family. After we have fed, clothed, loved all the children that have already been brought into this world and there are still people willing, and able to take in more children, that the parents are unable to care for or simply cannot care for, then lets debate abortion. For now I want the choice to me mine. I can't imagine that you cannot trust me with a choice, and yet you would trust me with such a precious thing as a child! Obama is offering the country a way"
This hit too close to home - I felt compelled to reply, as follows:
Unwanted, neglected and abused children are certainly a huge concern for our community and nation as a whole. I would love to have a positive dialog on how we can help these children, and partner social services with citizens to help these children and families break the cycle. I'm quite certain, however, that abortion is not a viable alternative to positive action, nor its legalization is a worthy means of reducing abuse. According to our Bill of Rights, there are 'certain inalienable rights that are bestowed by the Creator'.... I can't see the right to abortion being one of them. However, the question here is not only about whether abortion is right or wrong, but additionally, whether we, as free citizens, should be forced to pay for someone else's 'choice'. I once had a choice to make, that personal choice would have forced California taxpayers to pay for my irresponsibility. When I was 17 years old (35 years ago), I got pregnant and went to planned parenthood. They gave me a pregnancy test and automatically scheduled an abortion, giving me the paperwork necessary to apply for MediCal, even though I was still a dependent on my parents' medical plan. Thanks to the providence of God, I was given information by BirthRight about what abortion actually involved, something Planned Parenthood did not have the courage to tell me. I decided not to abort, got married instead, and 35 years later have 4 children and 6 grandchildren. I lost my job last year, and am now self-employed because I couldn't find a job. I am the primary breadwinner - my husband (yes, same guy from 1974) is a stay-at-home Dad to our 12 year old. I lost my health coverage with my job, so now we pay $500 per month for a high deductible plan for our family. It is an HSA compatible plan, so if we happen to have some extra money, we put it into our health savings account in order to pay for any future doctor visits. Since we keep the money we don't use, there is an incentive to understand what our health care is costing us and to keep those cost to a minimum. We go to the doctor when we need to, not for every little sniffle. If more people became concerned with the cost of their own health care decisions, then health care costs would most likely come down. As direct payers to Doctors and other medical providers, we in a sense decide how much they get paid. By taking responsibility and paying for our own family's health care, we don't need to concern ourselves if we are paying for procedures that we object to, perhaps a faceless and nameless 17 year old somewhere getting an abortion..... Again, I would love to have a constructive and positive conversation about how to truly help abused, neglected children and assist needy families to obtain health care. I among many others believe we as citizens and neighbors need to step up to the plate and take action to contribute time and money directly to our local community needs, not through bureaucratic government systems where much of the end benefit is eaten up along the way. Blessings to all, Connie Schmaljohann
Letter to BirthRight
July 26, 2009
BirthRight Concord
3106 Clayton Rd.
Concord, CA 94521
Dear Friends,
This is a letter I have been meaning to write for years. But it was the 35th birthday of my daughter-in-law this month that finally brought it to a head. You see, it was because of BirthRight of Concord and the providence of God, that in July 1974, my boyfriend, Michael (now husband) and I decided not to abort our son, the very week that his future wife was born.
I was barely 17 and pregnant, attending summer school at Concord High, so that I could graduate a semester early (this is yet another story.) It was a Government class that all seniors are required to take. The teacher of this class normally taught ‘Social Issues’ during the school year, so although we covered the Government topics, mostly we discussed social issues. We had two options for our class project: write a report on a current issue or invite a guest speaker. One of my classmates invited a representative from BirthRight to speak during the third week in July.
Back in 1974, there were no over-the-counter pregnancy tests. Planned Parenthood in Walnut Creek, however, offered pregnancy tests for $5. During the second week of July, Michael drove me there. We went to get a pregnancy test – we left with an appointment for an abortion, and the instructions on how to apply for MediCal so that all we’d have to pay was $50. There was no counseling; no other options were presented. The ‘procedure’ was scheduled for the fourth week of July.
God intervened. I don’t really remember what the BirthRight speaker said. I do remember the pictures – of a six week aborted fetus (I was six weeks pregnant). Yes, they were traumatic for me – to say the least. But… they saved my son’s life.
We were married on August 31, 1974. A traditional ceremony at First Lutheran Church on Concord Blvd. and a reception at my parents’ home. Our son, Jeffrey Michael Schmaljohann, was born March 2, 1975. I attended Concord High the 1974 fall semester, completing all the required classes to graduate with my class on June 11, 1975, my 18th birthday. My husband and I went on to have 3 more children, in 1977 (Jolene Heather), 1979 (Justin Daniel), and 1997 (Jayman Joseph). (Yes, the last one was a bit of a surprise.) Our sixth grandchild was born last week.
Jeff and Willow Schmaljohann were married October 23, 2004, and have two daughters, Marisa (3) and Hailie (8 months). Willow was born on July 24, 1974. Although I cannot remember the exact dates of those critical events, I can definitely draw a parallel between Jeff and Willow, affirmed in the scripture “Before I formed you in the womb I knew and approved of you, and before you were born I separated and set you apart.”
We firmly believe that none of our children would exist, that our lives would have gone a completely different path, had it not been for God’s intervention through BirthRight.
We are truly blessed beyond measure, and wanted to let you know how your ministry impacted us – not just during those critical moments in July 1974, but for our whole lives.
Blessings to you all,
Connie (and Michael) Schmaljohann
16831 China Gulch Dr.
Anderson, CA 96007
connie@mercyswing.org
BirthRight Concord
3106 Clayton Rd.
Concord, CA 94521
Dear Friends,
This is a letter I have been meaning to write for years. But it was the 35th birthday of my daughter-in-law this month that finally brought it to a head. You see, it was because of BirthRight of Concord and the providence of God, that in July 1974, my boyfriend, Michael (now husband) and I decided not to abort our son, the very week that his future wife was born.
I was barely 17 and pregnant, attending summer school at Concord High, so that I could graduate a semester early (this is yet another story.) It was a Government class that all seniors are required to take. The teacher of this class normally taught ‘Social Issues’ during the school year, so although we covered the Government topics, mostly we discussed social issues. We had two options for our class project: write a report on a current issue or invite a guest speaker. One of my classmates invited a representative from BirthRight to speak during the third week in July.
Back in 1974, there were no over-the-counter pregnancy tests. Planned Parenthood in Walnut Creek, however, offered pregnancy tests for $5. During the second week of July, Michael drove me there. We went to get a pregnancy test – we left with an appointment for an abortion, and the instructions on how to apply for MediCal so that all we’d have to pay was $50. There was no counseling; no other options were presented. The ‘procedure’ was scheduled for the fourth week of July.
God intervened. I don’t really remember what the BirthRight speaker said. I do remember the pictures – of a six week aborted fetus (I was six weeks pregnant). Yes, they were traumatic for me – to say the least. But… they saved my son’s life.
We were married on August 31, 1974. A traditional ceremony at First Lutheran Church on Concord Blvd. and a reception at my parents’ home. Our son, Jeffrey Michael Schmaljohann, was born March 2, 1975. I attended Concord High the 1974 fall semester, completing all the required classes to graduate with my class on June 11, 1975, my 18th birthday. My husband and I went on to have 3 more children, in 1977 (Jolene Heather), 1979 (Justin Daniel), and 1997 (Jayman Joseph). (Yes, the last one was a bit of a surprise.) Our sixth grandchild was born last week.
Jeff and Willow Schmaljohann were married October 23, 2004, and have two daughters, Marisa (3) and Hailie (8 months). Willow was born on July 24, 1974. Although I cannot remember the exact dates of those critical events, I can definitely draw a parallel between Jeff and Willow, affirmed in the scripture “Before I formed you in the womb I knew and approved of you, and before you were born I separated and set you apart.”
We firmly believe that none of our children would exist, that our lives would have gone a completely different path, had it not been for God’s intervention through BirthRight.
We are truly blessed beyond measure, and wanted to let you know how your ministry impacted us – not just during those critical moments in July 1974, but for our whole lives.
Blessings to you all,
Connie (and Michael) Schmaljohann
16831 China Gulch Dr.
Anderson, CA 96007
connie@mercyswing.org
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