Discussion | 79 comments

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• Jack MartinJanuary 04, 2012 - 3:05 pm

  Let's set aside the all the discussions on profit and loss for a moment and take a look at the really big picture... You're advocating for the Affordable Care Act, which when fully enacted, will essentially mandate that healthcare is a right for every American citizen. That "thing", healthcare, is a commodity that you may or may not need today. You may or may not need it this week, or even this year. Yet you will need food today. And you will need shelter today. And you will need them every day. How then will you say "no" to those who would advocate that food and shelter are also rights? Or will you? Is there a line you won't cross, or Is healthcare merely a stepping stone to legally codifying the "right" of everyone to food and shelter?

• Ken SteersJanuary 04, 2012 - 3:26 pm

  James first paragraph is a canard. Republicans fear government run health care true. But decry the mandate to buy health insurance. False. The decry is the mandate set forth by our government to force us to do something. I do not think that the Corporation known as our US government is equipped mentally or physically to better manage my life's decision better than me. There are many people who have decided to pay for medical expenses out of pocket, forgoing monthly premiums. I say that is their choice. His 3rd paragraph is strange. Blue shield Blue Cross and Kaiser California are not for profit organizations. My question is why did the Democrats cut 500 billion dollars out of Medicare to fund Obama care? Are they expecting Americans to live shorter lives after Obama care is implemented? Is Medicare no longer a necessary entitlement?

• James E.January 07, 2012 - 11:17 pm

  Mr. Martin, Medicare for All, and not a stepping stone to food, shelter, clothing, a car, TV cable or Internet access. Mr. Steers, your question: $500 billion was cut from Kaiser, et al., because Kaiser and the other managed care health companies have been overcompensated since 1972 when President Nixon directed a partial "privatization" of Medicare. Wonder which way the Supreme Court will find? Looks like it will come down to Justice Kennedy again. Wish I had known in the 6th grade, I would have lobbied Tony on single payer. Crocker Elementary, Sacramento, little did we know we had a future Supreme Court justice in our midst.

• Jack MartinJanuary 08, 2012 - 10:54 am

  Not a stepping stone....fair enough. That's YOUR view. As a legal precedent, though, if the ACA is deemed constitutional, how then will you legally tell the government it cannot require people to buy into a "food co-op" so that everyone has food? And shelter? They will point back to the ACA as a precedent. And then their argument WILL BE the hypothetical one I posed.

• Ken SteersJanuary 08, 2012 - 11:21 am

  Curently there is Medicare for all. The 500 billion cut is not HMO but Medicare. I was with a handfull of Dr.'s the other night. There is another 10% cut to fees paid to Dr's. It's not your responsibility to solve the issue I know but the situationist dire for those solely on Medicare as well as those taking Medicare for payment

• James E.January 08, 2012 - 12:17 pm

  Mr. Steers, I don't agree with your position about the $500 billion, but I do agree with you that the compensation to doctors who treat Medicare patients is, shall we say, deficient to the point of putting their businesses at risk. And, you say currently there is Medicare for all?? I bet a lot of the younger readers of the Mt. Democrat wishes this was so. And, if so, why all those local bake sales and spaghetti dinners to help people pay their medical bills (the income from bake sales and spaghetti dinners wouldn't pay much of a serious medical bill). Mr. Martin, perhaps, perhaps, anything in the future is possible. As they say in law, nothing is impossible.

• Ken SteersJanuary 08, 2012 - 12:37 pm

  James, You might be confused. Are you proposing Medicare or Tricare for all? You for example are on Tricare, in which you pay monthly premiums for. Very good health insurance for retired military. Those on straight Medicare do not have the luxury that you or I do. Today most GP's can not afford to take on patients with only Medicare. Side note, did you know that Dr.'s are waiting on average over a year for their medicare reimbursement? HORRIBLE. Everyone qualifies for Medicare today. You have to reach the criteria to qualify. Also if you are indigent or not able to afford medical care here in California there is Medical. My life experience with Medical, having raised numerous foster children has been to get them on my medical plan ASAP. I won't list the links for fear of being blocked, so if you would Google 500 billion cut in medicare, you'll see that I'm correct.

• James E.January 08, 2012 - 1:18 pm

  Mr. Steers, regarding length of time to get Medicare reimbursement, my Medicare doctor provided medical service in October and was paid in December. Approximately 45 days.

• Ken SteersJanuary 08, 2012 - 1:31 pm

  From Medicare or Tricare? I'm pretty sure you might have them mixed up. I was at dinner with an Eye Dr. A surgeon and a GP and they all were in agreement that the billing is over a year.

• Michael TarleckiJanuary 08, 2012 - 3:17 pm

  AT&T takes 9 to 12 months to pay their contractors.... Looks like it is just as bad in the private sector.

• Ken SteersJanuary 08, 2012 - 3:34 pm

  Mike AT&T is a client of mine. Net 45 day. I have clients that have as high as Net 97 days. What you do is build that payment delay into your contract at bid time. Dr's.don't get to negotiate with the government. In 1997 50% of my business was with the state and federal government. Today it's less than 1%. Why? It has become too hard to collect.

• James E.January 08, 2012 - 3:21 pm

  Mr. Steers, no, I am quite familiar with what Medicare pays and the follow up payment from TRICARE. The October service paid by Medicare in December was the 80% Medicare payment. I haven't heard yet from TRICARE on their 20% payment, but it usually follows in about one or two months. When Medicare pays they automatically send it on to TRICARE for their processing and payment. Very efficient and low overhead -- God help us all if we have to wander around with a voucher looking for a private company to insure us. Over the past two years in the areas of heart, urology, and neurology, payments have always been made promptly. Am I getting special treatment?

• Ken SteersJanuary 08, 2012 - 3:29 pm

  James, Your are getting access to service because you have insurance. This is not an attack or insult by me. I can not comment on how efficient or the overhead of your insurance. I'm not privy. Currently our citizens pay into Medicare through out their life and the receive the benefit at 65. And it is close to failure now. How do you solve the problem of our society paying for Medicare for all starting today with Tricare? Who do you propose pay for the system and how?

• James E.January 08, 2012 - 3:46 pm

  Mr. Steers, I said Medicare for All, not Medicare and TRICARE for all. TRICARE is a result of military service. For those interested, visit your local recruiting office. The overhead of Medicare is well known and WAY below that of private insurance companies. Medicare is close to failure (your words) because it is underfunded. Stop wall street bailouts and unnecessary wars and there will be sufficient money to pay for Medicare for All, plus lots of other public programs. I meant special treatment in that somehow my Medicare bill are being paid promptly. Could it be my good looks?

• James E.January 08, 2012 - 6:15 pm

  *** bills

• Michael TarleckiJanuary 08, 2012 - 12:47 pm

  # 1 -- Do you have health insurance on you and your family? # 2 -- A Supreme Court Decision said: Doctors & Hospitals can NOT deny health care [that's where the RIGHT comes in--Justices opinion said RIGHT] -- So If someone does NOT have Health Care then the TAXPAYER has to spend money trying to get the $$$ for their treatment. Do you prefer PAYING their health care bills instead of REQUIRING them to have some Health Coverage? Jack and Ken say they do not want the Govt to REQUIRE us to buy something. It's OK to REQUIRE people to BUY Photo ID to Vote [A right]. It's OK to REQUIRE men to sign-up for SELECTIVE SERVICE. It's OK to REQUIRE a woman to have a baby after she has been raped. This is NOT a fight over protecting People's Rights.... This is about Insurance Companies (They paid Tom McClintock $122,872; paid Dan Lungren $ 122,374) not to mention the numerous trips paid to BOTH of them for Insurance LOBBYING.... to FIGHT "Affordable" Health Care.... Jack and Ken you paid your health care because you have common sense... The Insurance companies don't care about your rights...not one word is said about your rights (I've been at some of these meetings)... It's about the law CUTTING PROFITS (Higher than before)....nothing more. You both can fight for Insurance companies...but don't say it's about Rights... You gave up that option long before Obama came along.

• Ken SteersJanuary 08, 2012 - 1:27 pm

  Mike I am not working for any health insurance company. As the client I like the option to chose a plan, how much coverage or have the ability to make the decision if I want or need insurance in the first place. I know that once the government removes those rights from me I will have lost my freedom. You for some reason advocate our government to take our rights away. Why do you trust our government? Your opening statements are such, the way you ask then answer your own question make it hard to have a clear discussion with out misinterpretation. I'll try to answer. Government ID? Make it free My insurance company is not for profit It's never OK to allow our government make us do anything. I'm not for our society advocating the distruction of anyone. Death penalty Suicide Abortion As far as your assumption that I already gave up my rights a long time ago? No by a long shot. Just because the government is currently eroding our rights doesn't mean I'm willing to get in the train car and go along with it. I loath and fear our government.

• Michael TarleckiJanuary 08, 2012 - 3:14 pm

  "As a client I like the option to chose a plan." that is the benefit we have in California -- Seven (7) other states have only one or two options--One of which is "Blue-Cross" or "Blue-Shield".... They have a 30-35% (Anthem-45%) administrative costs. (That's what the Heath Care Act was about--Opening up the market--Open Competition--no trapped clients like in AZ, SC, FL, MS, MO, TN & AL) What is wrong with other states having the same benefits that you have? "I loath and fear our government" -- Do you REALLY? You might not like SOME of the things it does.... but to "Loath" IT? Why are you here? (Could it be because you have voice here...where you don't in so many other countries?)

• Jack MartinJanuary 09, 2012 - 11:05 am

  You've pointed out one flaw in health insurance, overall. Presently it is forbidden for health care providers to do business across state lines. Eliminate that restriction, watch the competition go up, quality go up, prices come down. If that idea is so good (and it is) then why not do it singly instead of necessarily attaching it to the ACA.

• Ken SteersJanuary 09, 2012 - 11:46 am

  Jack, Because they have rigged the system to fail. Not unlike the financial bank loaning situation with Fannie and Freddie. Government mandated regulation designed to bring down an entire industry. Then the answer is? More government regulation like Dodd-Frank or Obama care. At least with Obama care we can see just how far LEFT the country is with allowing the government to mandate us to do something simply to live here. I honestly believe that Obama care will pass in the Supreme Court. Katie bar the door after that.

• Michael TarleckiJanuary 09, 2012 - 12:46 pm

  Jack --If your Health Insurance is BASED in AZ, it ONLY has to adhere to AZ laws. California Laws do not apply. Telephone workers learned this when Pacific Bell was bought out by a Texas based company: SBC (Later AT&T). California laws on employees did NOT apply, such as MUST be paid on payday. (TX says within 48 hours) California laws did not apply for customers: dial tone MUST be restored within 24-hrs. I know of people who lost service for over a week, because AT&T didn't authorize overtime for low-# of disconnects. Now from what I understand about AZ laws...you have to go through an "arbitrator" for any health coverage appeals. Courts are NOT an option. The "arbitrator" is paid for by the Health Care Company. Do you want that for YOUR health care laws?

• Jack MartinJanuary 09, 2012 - 2:08 pm

  So...... I don't know.... what's say we set up citizen watchdog groups (Tea Party, Occupy, et al) to monitor these insurance companies and raise hell with their own state's legislature to make sure they are adhering to reasonable laws. You know, that thing we used to call "grass roots". ANYTHING....... will be better than the government running the healthcare system. ANYTHING. You complained about a health-care company-paid arbitrator....... just wait until you have a greivance against the GOVERNMENT.... Friend, you will learn the meaning of indifference. The stories of one government agency after another involved in gross negligence or just plain ignorant behavior are legion. We all know them, we've probably all experienced them. The IRS has the authority in the ACA to hire 16,000 new agents and will be the agency primarily administering the bill's enforcement and codified laws. The IRS!!!!!! Have you ever been audited???? I have.... Just wait until you are issued the wrong prescription because of a paperwork snafu. You'll be dead before they straighten it out.

• James E.January 10, 2012 - 2:03 pm

  Yes, Mr. Martin, you previously addressed it with your Tea/Republican talking point.

• James E.January 09, 2012 - 5:05 pm

  Mr. Martin, if insurance companies were allowed to do business across state lines they would rush their company headquarters to the state which has the lowest or nonexistent regulation. Just like the credit card companies did. Once in a state with low or nonexistent regulation, they will be free to exploit their customers even more. Just another Tea/Republican talking point gone bad.

• Jack MartinJanuary 10, 2012 - 1:33 pm

  Already addressed that.

• Ken SteersJanuary 08, 2012 - 1:29 pm

  Micheal you single me out in your question regarding Lundgren and MClintock. Does this mean you find no fault in Boxer Feinstein or Brown?

• Ken SteersJanuary 08, 2012 - 3:20 pm

  Loath and fear. Could you explain why you trust it while refusing to hold our government accountable. I have no say in any state. And very little in ours. Was that a serious question? Why am I here?

• ARNOLD LANGEJanuary 09, 2012 - 7:48 am

  Mr Steers, you "fear and loath" our government? Pretty strong words. What exactly are you afraid of? Stormtroopers busting through your front door? Have you ever been jailed for what you have said? Are you afraid of our heavily armed marines patrolling Cameron Park? Perhaps it is the repression that has prevented you from becoming part of the 1% you so proudly wear on your shirt sleave? Maybe the rationing of resources or shortages at the supermarket. Move to Syria, Libya, Myanmar, the Sudan or any other country that is more free and offers more opportunity then AMERICA. You will understand what being afraid of the government really means. (playing yourself as the VICTIM ike MR. Gibney, is really weak). Try answering the questions as opposed to responding by throwing back questions (your default).

• Jack MartinJanuary 09, 2012 - 2:11 pm

  In all fairness................. Progressives and Liberals were also using "Fear" and "Loathe" during GWB's two terms. Said he was gonna turn us into a police state. Yeah, I still remember all the rhetoric, some of which was viable and needed to be said. Where are those people now that "their guy" is in the white house?

• Ken SteersJanuary 09, 2012 - 2:27 pm

  "I loath the military" Bill Clinton

• James E.January 09, 2012 - 5:08 pm

  Did Bill ever really say, in person, TV, or print, that he loathed the military? No question he probably didn't want to join the military, but what would be his gain to make such a statement. Lawyers are usually careful about their words.

• Ken SteersJanuary 09, 2012 - 10:34 pm

  Yes he did. I agree usual lawyers are careful. Remember we are talking about Bill...

• Jack MartinJanuary 10, 2012 - 1:02 pm

  He wrote it in a letter to Colonel Eugene Homes in December 1969. Young Slick Will was writing to his name removed from the list of draftees. SOURCED!!!! 'Cuz that's how I roll... http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/clinton/etc/draftletter.html

• Tom GibneyJanuary 09, 2012 - 9:00 am

  Victim??? Some of us Arnold, prefer to pay attention and expect the worse until the situation proves otherwise. My God man,You really need to stop sounding like a self rightous pompus ass so often.

• James E.January 09, 2012 - 5:15 pm

  Mr. Gibney, expecting the worse until situation proves otherwise comes from your time in the Navy. I know in the Army I thought many times "This is really bad, and it probably will get worse before it gets better. Anchors away, gob. Now, before I get assaulted for calling Mr. Gibney a lump or a clot, gob is also defined as an American sailor.

• Tom GibneyJanuary 09, 2012 - 9:16 am

  Note. This is stil a great country to live in, despite it's woes and it's politicians. Despite it's biased media and it's heated politics. Yes there are countries where we could not debate this with out fear of imprisonment. However, as I mentioned above, it is prudent to hold our government accountable and to pay attention to it. While we still can...

• ARNOLD LANGEJanuary 09, 2012 - 9:21 am

  tom, check your previous post where you stated you are a victim. Always expecting the worse can sometimes result in a self fulfilling prophecy. I am sorry if you confuse a well thought out statement with self-rectitude and being pompous. You offered three descriptive words of me. You may not be self righteous or pompous but sometimes you are the third.

• Tom GibneyJanuary 09, 2012 - 9:43 am

  I never stated I was a victim...but you read what you want to read. A well thought out statement....huh? You drag my name into a thread I have said nothing in until now and you call me a victim. You interpit things and people the way you want but leave me out of it unless I have contributed. You do not know me by country mile Mr.Lange...

• Ken SteersJanuary 09, 2012 - 10:39 am

  Arnie, Your mouth is writing checks your behind can't cash. FYI, our government is not our country. Our founding fathers warned us to fear government intervention in our lives. I have, as millions of other Americans sworn an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States from enemies, foreign and domestic. I have not sworn to blindly follow our politicians and bureaucrats. A two way conversation would consist of questions and answers from both sides. I apologize for asking you questions that you obviously don't have the bandwidth to answer. Sometimes I forget who I'm talking to.

• ARNOLD LANGEJanuary 09, 2012 - 1:49 pm

  i know who i am replying to. with you there is no two way conversation. just bad mouthing and rwtp's. Mostly I am writing to the masses, not those who bicker back and forth like some schoolyard brats.

• ARNOLD LANGEJanuary 09, 2012 - 1:46 pm

  you have tom, "We are still have upwards of 15 trillion dollar debt, excessive unemployment, (I am a victim of this as well but it’s now down to only 8.9". YOU have dragged my name into a thread previously. don't be a hypocrite.

• johnJanuary 09, 2012 - 12:15 pm

  Amazing how Ken Steers makes up stuff as he blathers along and so many writers/readers continue falling for his delusions. Like Obama stole $500 billion from Medicare. The $500 billion was shifted from one Medicare pot to another, to promote efficiency, This canard has been debunked ad nauseum and only Tea Baggers keep the fantasy going. Or: Medicare takes a year to pay Steers's doctor buddies. Total and absolute BS, The law mandates the USG to pay vendors/service providers within 30 days of receipt of invoice. If payment is delayed for no valid reason, Uncle Sam has to pay interest. If Steer's doctor buddies accept being paid 12 months, they sound as if they fell off the hay wagon yesterday.

• ARNOLD LANGEJanuary 09, 2012 - 1:41 pm

  one consistent technique ken uses in these comments is to demand others to answer questions while not doing the same. of course name calling and attacking others is par for the course and most readers probably(as I do) attribute it to a weak command of the english language and to an inability to articulate in a coherent factual manner their normally wild and false statements. but that is the mission, fog the truth and reality with BS. Make factually false statements backed up by the blogosphere and talking heads at fraud news. kens response to my comment illustrates just that.

• Tom GibneyJanuary 09, 2012 - 4:10 pm

  You went back a month to find the quote...? or do you catalog everything? Both tells me you are spending too much time here Wait why am I even responding to this pandantic BS? Obviously I should know better than to argue with somebody who is obviously so superior. My appologies Mr. Lange. I will leave you to your self rightousness....

• Tom GibneyJanuary 09, 2012 - 4:11 pm

  correction: pedantic :)

• ARNOLD LANGEJanuary 09, 2012 - 6:19 pm

  Tom, Pedantic is a word you use continously along with a few others. I find it amusing. Self Righteous is not a word to describe me. Once again, throwing insults instead of using your words to say something intelligent. As far as remembering something you typed, I have a great memory. It took less than a minute on the google to find that quote. One other thing, I suggest that when you want to use the big words, consult a dictionary and at least make an attempt to spell them right. The correct usage would go far to further your dissemination of misinformation.

• Tom GibneyJanuary 09, 2012 - 8:05 pm

  Arnold,ya know, I am not going to put anymore time into some juvinile pissing match with some reitred old marine. I have my opinion and you have yours. You seem to see things in an a different light Hey thats fine. But the consistant crap that everybody with a conservative political opinion is wrong and the left is always right gets to be "Hogwash" as you like to say. In this day of biased media and political friciton do you really know whats true or not? I mean even a blind man knows when it's raining out. Dissemination of misinformation indeed... The things I think of the future with this admin at the wheel?,Hell I hope I am wrong. But the clouds sure look heavy. and I damn sure am not blind. Time will tell...

• James E.January 09, 2012 - 5:20 pm

  I know why Mr. Gibney and Mr. Lange don't get along. Gibney was Navy and Lange was Marines. The rumor is that sailors and marines don't get along.

• ARNOLD LANGEJanuary 09, 2012 - 6:23 pm

  naw james, we don't get along because he is an ill-informed tea bagger. I liked the navy, they transported me all over the south red china sea and their corpsmen fixed my feet. Didn't like it when the ship rocked during a helicopter landing and we almost tumbled off.

• ARNOLD LANGEJanuary 09, 2012 - 6:37 pm

  Kens "purpose" is to spread rightwing talking points, lies and just plain verbal excrement. He is here to stir it up. He makes stupid statements to bait others his most used debate(what a joke) technique is to call names, insult etc. If you or me say something his job is to attack attack attack. I think it is because he and the others recognize that they will not replace Obama, won't take the senate and thanks to the teabaggers will probably lose the house. True conservative republicans by now recognize that their party is in turmoil and is imploding right before there eyes.

• Ken SteersJanuary 09, 2012 - 10:48 pm

  Arnie, You are in dire need of some self introspection. Actually you are bordering on delusion. "Obama won't take the Senate"? Lose the House? Democrats lost the house. Democrats will lose the Senate. I want to point out to all that the first person to use the word pedantic was me. And it was when Mr. Garon called me a Tea Bagger. I called him shallow and pedantic. I heard Peter Griffen use the term on Lois in Family Guy. Tom, is it me or is this Arnie fella just plain nuts?

• ARNOLD LANGEJanuary 09, 2012 - 11:30 pm

  ken, you must have not seen the comma so here it is again....'they will not replace Obama, won’t take the senate and thanks to the teabaggers will probably lose the house'. And in classic ken steers style, you point out that you were the first to use pedantic, which of course means nothing. really. Go ahead and pat yourself on the back anyway. call me nuts. i call you ken steers.

• Ken SteersJanuary 10, 2012 - 8:02 am

  Well thank you very much Arnie. Have a nice day.

• Jack MartinJanuary 10, 2012 - 1:07 pm

  LOL!!!!!! Thanks for the belly laugh of the day.... The Democrats, especially in the Senate, are retiring by the week, because their OWN intenral polls are telling them they don't have a chance in hell of re-election. So, they're doing what Dems do, putting "me first", taking whatever money they have in their re-election pots and going home. The Senate WILL go over to Republican majority, the house will gain even MORE REpublican seats and the Presidential race is, unfortunately, a toss up. (But with Gallup's newest poll numbers showing Obama now down to 42% approval, he is a less than 50-50 chance to win)

• CatherineJanuary 09, 2012 - 9:28 pm

  To Mr. Longhofer's original point, demanding that insurance companies use 80% of premium income for patient services would be extremely helpful. Currently, the insurance companies are on their own drunken joyride: http://money.cnn.com/2011/05/11/news/economy/healthcare_costs_family/index.htm. Higher employee premiums and deductibles are causing people to simply forgo healthcare. Lessening unnecessary care is good, but otherwise this is not good for society and an absolute coups for insurers, who now extract money from people who don't even go to the doctor. It's a toss-up whether Medicare for All or a private plan would cost more to administer---the arguments pro and con are both pretty convincing, and raw data is very hard to come by---but there's much greater opportunity to evaluate American health trends and healthcare costs if you have some form of unified system for doing so. The ACA is a weak step forward, and quite flawed, but it's an important step if we want to have a civil society where people get the healthcare they need for themselves, and that needed to ensure the safety of others in their communities. Personally, I think food and shelter are also acceptable rights, as is education. Not because I think people should get things for free, but because if you have healthy, educated citizens, everyone is better off. It's called civilization. The country can afford it---just decrease military spending, including all those military pensions and special healthcare benefits (but now I'm just messin' with you).

• James E.January 09, 2012 - 11:56 pm

  Catherine, the military always told me their pensions were top notch. Now that I've retired I see I would have a larger pension had I been a county administrative official. Think a recent one went out with $225,000 a year for life. Not only a larger pension, but a comfortable 40 hour work week in a controlled temperature environment and home at night for 30 years. Plus a shower whenever I wanted one, and cool clean water. Ever had a drink of warm to hot water out of a plastic canteen? Not the best. And interesting while it's called a military pension, it is instead noted in finance regulations as "reduced compensation for reduced services." This probably because a regular officer of the various services can be recalled to active duty until the day they die. Not sure what they would do with colonels in their 70s and 80s, but guess I could train, command a post or station, or inventory toilet paper in a large warehouse in Afghanistan. Now my mother told me to go into banking -- had I done so I wouldn't need reduced compensation for reduced services given my $5 million or more banking bonuses. P.S. I could google it, but think Medicare administrative costs are around 5% while private health insurance companies are 15% -- this from memory and I'm sure someone will comment with the right percentages. I think I read that Germans go to college requiring no tuition. Got to give credit to the Germans -- a smart policy resulting in an educated population which pays off way beyond the cost to the government.

• Ken SteersJanuary 10, 2012 - 8:14 am

  Good morning James, I Googled it like you asked. http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2009/06/medicare-administrative-costs-are-higher-not-lower-than-for-private-insurance But then I said oh fiddle this information is from the Heritage Foundation and will be discounted. Sticking to your pension. You earned every penny you receive. We need to figure out how to honor future pensions as well. In Germany the Government does pay for higher education. But you must qualify. There are test through out child hood and those score dictate what type of education you can receive. For instance if your scores are poor in the 8th grade, that might remove you from becoming a doctor or scientist and limit you to a trade school. I think they go to school 6 days a week also. Obviously we are not getting the most bang for our buck and should look at many other systems to see if we can correct the situation.

• CatherineJanuary 10, 2012 - 9:55 am

  James, I absolutely agree that pensions for all government jobs are out of control and unsustainable. But remember that you chose your career. You wouldn't have been able to pluck out anyone's eyes in a desk job, or buy a plane on the fly, or dine in exotic locations with exciting people. So no whining about the showering conditions. My real gripe is the per-person cost to kill people. We should just buy them. The US hasn't been in a necessary war since the 1950s. The military is engaged in efforts that are very different from providing Americans with safety and security. I don't understand why Ron Paul is the only Republican who is bothered by this. On Medicare admin costs, the article Kenny points to is one I've read, and I don't think their argument can be discarded, although I doubt it has deep truth. Of course Heritage is a pure propaganda outlet; I grew up near the Coors family (nutcases), who started it, and then there are those pesky Koch Bros. If you're going to have private insurers---even with an 80% provision requirement---medical costs will continue to increase, as stockholders will demand their quarterly increases, execs and boards will negotiate their perks, and doctors will continue to need an ever-growing army of insurance experts, plus their own private malpractice insurance. Wasteful use of resources, although it does create 'jobs.' I don't understand people when they say "the Constitution limits the federal government to providing for the safety and security of it's people," but they don't think this includes educating them, keeping them healthy, and making sure they don't have to sleep in the streets. Could there be a reason for government not doing these things? ... George Carlin thinks so: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsL6mKxtOlQ Happy Tuesday.

• CatherineJanuary 10, 2012 - 9:58 am

  *** its

• James E.January 10, 2012 - 11:14 am

  Catherine, no question that a military career can be an exciting one. Top notch people, see the world, fly aircraft, serve with the Black Knights of the Hudson, learn Pentagon politics, a card carrying member of the CIA (the polygraph and mental exam are daunting), command soldiers in combat, and enjoy the sunset years in Pville counseling Mr. Steers and Mr. Martin (in the hope of them jumping the fence into Democratic land). My point above, in the discussion of pensions, is that one can get a bigger pension by being a county administrative officer. More pension, less effort and danger. Yes I choose my path, it couldn't have been better, and I'm grateful to Lady Luck that I made it through without being killed or maimed. As for educating, health, and making sure citizens don't have to sleep in the streets -- think that's covered under "Provide for the General Welfare." George Carlin -- that bit about "them" not caring about us should be engraved in stone on the Mall in DC. P.S. Any military member, of any service, who had to pluck an eyeball didn't enjoy doing it.

• James E.January 10, 2012 - 11:18 am

  *** "Promote the General Welfare"

• Catherine MoneJanuary 10, 2012 - 11:33 am

  James, you're not enough of a suck-up to have excelled in a bureaucratic desk job with a fat pension. The C students who assume those roles would have been uncomfortable with you, and they would have undermined your efforts at every turn. No, I believe that in retirement you've found your true calling, and I know Mr. Steers and Mr. Martin value your counsel. Your work is certainly cut out for you!

• Jack MartinJanuary 10, 2012 - 1:11 pm

  Counseling? In what world, real or imaginary, have you accurately and properly instructed me on anything of either the political or religious stripe? When I want to know how to fly an aircraft, I'll seek your counsel.

• James E.January 10, 2012 - 1:58 pm

  Mr. Martin, it was a joke -- try to stop being so anal.

• Jack MartinJanuary 10, 2012 - 1:14 pm

  "Provide for the General Wlefare" has nothing to do with individual citizens or even groups of citizens. It is about promoting harmony between the states, and ONLY about that. You're confusing it (again) with the Communist Manifesto. Thanks for "counseling"....

• James E.January 10, 2012 - 2:00 pm

  Mr. Martin, the founder's were proficient in saying what they meant. Were you right, it would read "Promote the harmony between the states." Again, counseling was a joke -- how could you ever be counseled?

• Jack MartinJanuary 10, 2012 - 5:15 pm

  Yes, James the Founders were quite accurate in what they meant. "James Madison stated that the “general welfare” clause was not intended to give Congress an open hand “to exercise every power which may be alleged to be necessary for the common defense or general welfare.” If by the “general welfare,” the Founding Fathers had meant any and all social, economic, or educational programs Congress wanted to create, there would have been no reason to list specific powers of Congress such as establishing courts and maintaining the armed forces. Those powers would simply have been included in one all-encompassing phrase, to “promote the general welfare.” http://www.lawandliberty.org/genwel.htm

• James E.January 10, 2012 - 5:54 pm

  Mr. Martin, the side notes from Madison are interesting, but if that was their intent, again it would have been stated. Establishing courts and the maintaining of the armed forces are not within the purview of promote the general welfare. You speak Tea Party.

• Kirk MacKenzieJanuary 10, 2012 - 7:37 pm

  Mr Martin -- I'm pretty sure you're right about the explicit instructions from the founders. However, I also believe they were realistic enough to know they didn't know everything. "...the general welfare" is actually pretty specific. Blood-sucking profiteering at the public trough does not qualify. I think education -- given the "right" scope and execution -- deserves a place in the federal government. Same with healthcare and a whole host of other services. Imagine they left the door open for future roles with the "general welfare" clause...and they actually meant it had to be good for the nation. What services do you think the feds *should* provide? One stipulation: what we have today bears little resemblance to what either one of us wants.

• Ken SteersJanuary 10, 2012 - 10:22 am

  Catherine, I'm sorry to be confusing. I actually didn't need to read the article because I lived in Germany and was speaking on my personal life experience. Regarding the education process I did say we should look at many other systems to try to improve ours. I have always felt that education as well as most government is best handled locally. (personal belief) Regarding your 2nd to last paragraph limiting powers to the FEDS? There's this document- We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. Carlin was a legendary comedian.

• James E.January 10, 2012 - 2:36 pm

  Mr. Martin, regarding your WAG that Tea/Republicans will take the Senate and increase their majority in the House: You won the House because you promised jobs -- American now knows that was BS. So good luck. Americans also know the Republicans in the Senate obstructed everything. With this new knowledge over the past two years their winning the Senate is problematic. As for the polls, everyone flawed. The poll that counts is the one in November 2012. There is one sure prediction you could make. McClintock will be reelected, because that is what El Dorado County deserves.

• Ken SteersJanuary 10, 2012 - 3:54 pm

  James be nice. True an election is coming in November. And as much as you are frustrated that because you live in El Dorado county, you're stuck with McClintock. I'm frustrated that because I live in California my vote hasn't counted for president since Reagan. Politics is like being a Raiders fan. You can yell and cheer all you want but have very little impact to the result of the out come. Go take your dogs for a walk. It's nice outside.

• James E.January 11, 2012 - 10:14 am

  Mr. Steers, actually I'm not frustrated because I live in El Dorado County. I consider Mr. McClintock as I do tax rates -- they exist.

• johnJanuary 11, 2012 - 9:26 am

  Ken Steers calls me 'pedantic'--on what basis, I haven't the foggiest notion! Nevertheless, I apologize to Mr. Steers and all Tea Baggers everywhere for using multi-syllabic words and compound sentences which, I assume, are examplars of 'pedantic' in the tea bagging universe. Heretofore, I'll limit myself to one-syllable words, interspersed with lots of "You know!".

• Ken SteersJanuary 11, 2012 - 10:33 am

  John, Yes it was you. Your a legend. To be clear though I'm not a member of any Tea Party. But if you want to be tea bagged? Let me know. I'll be your Huckleberry...

• ARNOLD LANGEJanuary 11, 2012 - 5:02 pm

  Ken, do you know what the term tea bagging means? You may (or may not) want to reconsider your above comment.

• Larry CraigJanuary 11, 2012 - 5:40 pm

  I am sure he knows what it means! Ken, please don't forget to shave next time!

• William MinforthJanuary 11, 2012 - 11:31 am

  Any rancher can tell you, if you need a lot of manure, you need Steers!!

• GeraldJanuary 18, 2012 - 5:54 pm

  Hey everyone Mitt Romney instituted a government mandate in Romneycare in Massachusetts. Mr. Romney based his Romneycare on the Heritage Foundations 1994 counter plan to Hillarycare. So anyone screaming about government mandates are illegal you should take it up with the Heritage Foundation and Mitt Romney. Oh and if you think they are illegal I guess you have to vote for Ron Paul.