Government Shutdown : Who Will Blink

So who do you think will blink first?

MSNBC  Odds of Shutdown Increase
CNN House GOP Plan
FOX News Obamacare Delay

Of course, Hiram will say the GOP is threatening the good name of America.  However, I am trying to figure out how in the world does one stop the excessive spending without cutting up the credit cards?

Thoughts?  On the negotiations?  Obamacare funding? Other?

Ideas for Creating Jobs in America?

Now here are some quick thoughts.

• Chongqing is incredible and very different.  It is built in a hilly/mountainous terrain so there is green space between the urban areas.
• 20+ story apartment buildings are everywhere and they are actively building probably another 50+ based on the cranes that are everywhere I have driven.
• There are huge variations from high tech, fashion oriented, wealthy, modern to traditional, poor and ram shackle.
• The picture of the woman brooming along the street is a common occurrence. The plants and trees near the highways are beautifully landscaped.  Imagine driving along 494, 55, etc and there is some person with a broom and dust pan walking along the street about every 2 miles.
• Then the construction sites vary from modern equipment, to large groups of people out there with hand tools.  Huge modern cranes right next to bamboo scaffolding... 

Maybe we could give all the welfare recipients and the unemployed orange suits, brooms and dust pans....  It would definitely reduce the unemployment rate...  Thoughts?

 

 

Not in MN Anymore

A view from my 14th floor room in Shanghai.  Buildings, buildings, everywhere...

North Dakota Oil Boom

Last weekend I spent a day with my parents touring the area around Stanley, Tioga and New Town North Dakota.  My Great Aunt Bertha had asthma and moved up to Tioga before the first oil boom because the air was drier.  She then became quite the business woman and worked as a liaison between the local farmers and the petroleum companies during the first boom.  Fortunately for my family, she also had the foresight to buy some land.

It was very interesting to see all the infrastructure development over the Baaken formation. They need a lot of electricity, water, gas pipelines, train loading depots and everything else that is needed to support the rapid population increase.  From my description you might think the area is becoming highly populated, well not really...  Remember that this is ~1000 square miles of pretty widen open spaces and crop fields.  Also once a well is up and pumping, there isn't much to it, just a pumper and 4 or 5 holding tanks.

The man camps were kind of interesting structures, they reminded me some of a habitrail for hamsters.  However as you can see from the video they seem pretty nice inside.

For more details on where the rigs are you can access the ND Oil and Gas Site.  And then you can select their GIS Map Server which shows every well (old & current), the path of the horizontal drilling, every active drilling unit and more.  Apparently ND gets ~11% of whatever comes out of the ground, so all the citizens should be pretty happy.  And the land owners are really happy since they get somewhere between 1/6 & 1/8 depending on the terms.  I met some of the locals and they reminded me a lot of Jed Clampett, real nice conservative folks who have a little extra unplanned for income coming in.

Here is a video that explains fracking.  And here is a discussion of some of the claims regarding fracking.  So now it is your turn, what do you think of what is happening in NW ND? Good, bad, indifferent?

FYI, I fly out for Shanghai China at ~11 AM tomorrow. And then I continue on to Chongqing, probably the biggest city you have never heard of.  Apparently they have some significant growing pains and poverty that the Chinese government is working to address.  I probably won't have much time for touring however I am sure it will be an experience.  In case you note my posting or commenting at strange times, now you'll know why.  Wish me luck !!!

Goal of American Healthcare?

Here is Sean's proposal from the last post.

"The goal should be to deliver quality health care to all of our citizens in the most efficient manner." Sean

What do you think?  "Should" this be our goal?  If not, what should it be?

It seems a bit socialistic for my taste, however I am curious how others perceive this.

ObamaCare Coverage Limits?

 Here are several statements that seem at odds.  Thoughts?

"You're the reason there's a little girl with a heart disorder in Phoenix who'll get the surgery she needs because an insurance company can't limit her coverage." Obama G2A Obama Promise to Spend More

"Health care is already rationed in this country -- by the ability to pay. So what we should be discussing is not whether or not rationing should occur, but on what basis we should do so." Sean G2A ObamaCare Shifting Costs Where?

"Sorry, I'm not going to wade through that bill. My personal experience is with my father, with scant days to live, being told that he had to leave the hospital because Medicare would no longer cover his stay. I offered to pay and was told that was not allowed under Medicare rules. Also, that is the rule under Canada's socialized medicine system and I have no reason to believe that Obama's is any different. Like Medicare and Medicaid, if they do not pay, the doctor may not accept private payment." Jerry G2A ObamaCare Shifting Costs Where?

What is the truth here:

• Coverage with no limits?
• Death panels wandering the nursing homes?
• Why pay for Gold if everyone gets the surgery they require?
• What really limited J's father's treatment? Medicare limits or Hospital greed. 

Why are there Fewer Women Bosses?

 Ok, let's take a break from ObamaCare.  Dog and I are disagreeing over what women think and why...  They have an opinion that women on the whole are just as foolish as men.  They believe that as many women as men are willing to put their career ahead of their children and family. MPP Why those at TOP. Fail...  Of course I disagree, I personally think most women are much smarter and more balanced.

"What about the pragmatic concept that the woman’s path to the top is blocked because many of them are smarter and therefore value a healthy work life balance?

I finished my MBA and made a conscious decision not to pursue the upper management ranks. The personal cost due to excessive travel and long days was not worth the money or position. I think most women agree, so I always find this topic amusing." G2A

"Just as there are men who want to do what it takes to get to the top, there are also women. I find the idea that women don’t want to be paid the same as men for the same work, that they don’t care about their careers as much, or that they are ‘too smart’ to want to succeed is bogus.

People want different things, but men and women want the same things. Women are just routinely not treated equally." Dog Gone

Okay ladies what do you think?  Having a wife and 3 daughters, I know I am probably incorrect for some reason...  Please enlighten me...  Thoughts?

Forbes Women Opting Out?
NY Times Women Like Childcare more then Men?
Columbia Consult
The Wonder of Girls Michael Gurian

Obamacare: Shifting Costs Where?

Okay. Let's try to eat this elephant one bite at a time.  And since one really isn't going to reduce healthcare costs significantly without changing one of the drivers found in this link. G2A Healthcare Cost Drivers  We have to assume that Obamacare is for the most part just reallocating costs in some way.

So who is paying the costs today for the insured and uninsured?

• Fed Gov't / Taxpayers: Medicare, Medicaid, VA, etc
• State Gov't / Taxpayers: State Health Services, etc
• Insurance, Employer, Customers: Benefits, etc
• Hospitals / Insurance: Pro Bono work, Cross subsidy, etc
• Citizens: Premiums, Copays, Deductible, Direct Payments, etc
• Charities: Funding in cases of need
• Everyone: Lawyers, Court costs, Ambulance chaser ads, etc
• Banks / Shareholders: Bankruptcy settlements, etc

So if the Fed and State governments are going to start paying part or all of the premiums for those who do not have employer subsidized health insurance.  And we citizens, business, etc are going to fund this activity by paying more some where. (ie government has NO money) 

Where do you think we will see the savings appear to offset these increases?
Or are the additional coverages and customers costing more than the program is saving?
Other?

Hill Medicaid Exception Clarified
Healthcare Town Hall
Human Arc ACA Shifting
WSJ Cost Shifting
NYT Detroit to Shift Costs
Fox News States Blind Sided by Shifts

ObamaCare is Working?

Since I don't know much about the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, I am pretty indifferent to it.  However it seems that the Left are Praising it and the Right are Vilifying it...  So it should make for a good research topic, when I get time this weekend between outdoor activities.

I do have one piece of knowledge that has been confirmed by the HR groups of both the companies that I have worked with during the past year.  The premiums that my company and I pay for family coverage have gone up because of PPACA.  This makes perfect sense because the "benefits" my family may receive and the "risk" that the insurance company faces have increased.  Three of the key factors as I understand them are: kids are covered longer, certain benefits are mandatory and applicants with pre-existing conditions can not be denied or charged a higher rate.  Makes sense.

Here are Liberal links that praise the PPACA:
MPP Obamacare Doing What It is Supposed To (Joe Bodell)
MPP Obamacare is Working (Dog Gone)
MPP MN Sure Rates (Big E)

Here are Conservative links that critique PPACA:
Heritage Foundation:Obamacare

Here are a mix of links:
ObamaCare Facts
AARP: Fact Sheets
Kaiser Family Foundation
About:Facts
Policy Mic: Pros/Cons
Huff Post Obamacare
Bloomberg Cost Affordable
Wash Post Know premiums.  Affordable?
Wash Post Health care
Just the Facts: Healthcare
The Economist Rate Shock?

This post(s) will be developing all weekend.  So what links should I add and study?

A secondary goal is to determine if Liberal and Conservative links are factual or not?
(A side discussion Dog, J and I are working.. Dog says Conservatives make stuff up and J says Liberals make stuff up...)

Facts and Humanity

So Dog has posed an interesting challenge...  "I’m still waiting for you to provide a definition of who and what is human, including along our evolutionary history."  It was a part of this much larger comment...

"G2, all you have offered here is faith in place of fact, and no fact-based definitions.

We can agree in facts, and I am quite clear about the extent to which facts are accumulated in larger contexts. If you see an example where I have misrepresented any fact, please supply it. Beyond that, while there may not be perfect consensus, I have provided both the most current information, the conclusions from that information – which you have not challenged using facts.

You avoid anything which is factual that discredits your arguments. I don’t. I’m still waiting for you to provide a definition of who and what is human, including along our evolutionary history.

I have not extrapolated to any extreme degree, I have rather expressed here what the current status of science is. The appropriate criticism for extrapolation of facts – which is not faith or belief – relies on the quantity and diversity of those facts taken together. You haven’t offered up anything – ANYTHING – that argues against EITHER the facts or the conclusions from them.

You just offer up “I like my prejudices better”, and call it faith, without addressing the facts AT ALL.

These are not ‘just my conclusions – or facts’, they are the prevailing thought, which is well founded. You simply don’t like them." Dog Gone

Here were my responses...

"“prevailing thought” of a certain group of people…" G2A

"Why would anyone debate “facts” with you? You would just insist that their sources are biased, incorrect, stupid, disproven, etc. While insisting that yours are rock solid and unbiased.. Until you empty your cup a bit, accept that a lot of this is gray and respect opposing views, it is a waste of time…" G2A

"I often disagree with my readers but I do respect their differing views, whereas that is something you are not able to do yet. Open or close minded, it is your choice." G2A

"As for when a fetus becomes a human… I believe there is no correct black/white answer. That is why we have politicians and courts. This again will be a difficult concept for you. The fetus becomes human when the society in which you live says it does. And this can change over time… Just like values, crimes, success criteria, definition of beauty, sinful behavior, etc. You are a black and white person living in a very gray world…" G2A

 Now I know we have discussed abortion many times.  This time I would like you to forget about the whole concept of abortion, women's rights, Roe V Wade, viability, etc.  And just try to answer these questions from your personal perspective:

• Are humans significantly different from other mammals? How & Rationale?
• Did we evolve from a lower level of mammal? If so, when did we become "human"?
• When do think a human becomes a human via the natural pro-creation process? Rationale?
• Can you think of any "factual" way to prove or disprove the above to 90+% of humans?  (ie prevailing thought)

 Thoughts?

Impeach Obama?

J,    Maybe you can enlighten me and save me some research.  With some Conservatives openly dreaming of impeaching Obama, could you tell me what grounds they are imagining using?

I may not always agree with the President, however this seems a bit out there.  Thoughts?

WP Constitutional Grounds for Impeachment
CNN Nearing Grounds for Impeachment
Think Progress 10 Reasons GOP wants to Impeach President

Sweat Shops, Better than the Alternatives?

Now Grace Kelly has joined the Ethics band wagon with a different spin.  MPP Fatal Flaw of Removed Decision Making  In essence she is saying that Apple and other corporations are knowingly and willingly perpetuating unsafe, toxic, etc factories overseas in the name of making a profit.  And my interpretation is that she thinks we should do something about that.  I wanted to share the following story with her, however we know how well that went...

My MBA Ethics Professor at the University of St Thomas told us a story about his first experiences with overseas factories.  He said that being a modern American he shared many of Grace's idealistic opinions before touring plants in different countries in South East Asia during the late 1970's.  He had a vision that the children should be free to go to school until they were 18.  He believed the workers should have good, clean and safe world class factories.  He believed they should be working ~40 hours per week. And on and on.  He said he was looking at it from his "dumb" American perspective.

Then during his tour he had the opportunity to see just how naive he was being.  These people were in severe poverty and were incredibly happy to have the opportunity to work in these "terrible places".  One particular benefit he said was that previously poor rural families with no work had often been forced to sell their daughters into the sex trade in order to keep the other family members fed.  Whereas now there were jobs where they could make a modest living based on local standards.

He carried that new more realistic perspective with him from then on.  It didn't mean that global companies should close their eyes and ignore problems.  However it did mean that Rome was not built in a day.  These global companies with higher standards could stop buying and influencing change in 3rd world countries, however where would that leave the citizens of those countries?

The reality is that us Americans are so very fortunate, and many others live a much darker existence.  It does not mean we stop trying to improve things, however it would be smart to be face the situation eyes wide open.

Remember that the path to hell is paved with good intentions.  Where would China have been if they hadn't experienced their "industrial boom" and it's problems.  Who's money do you think is funding the improvements they are starting to implement?  Remember that America had to go through the same stages of development...  Thoughts?

BI Apple to Audit Pegatrong
(wonder which China based corps conduct audits?)
G2A The Decent Wage
G2A Chinese Factories, Foxconn and Apple
G2A Business, Government or Citizen Control

For a more "out there" Grace post, check this one out.
MPP Bomb Syria or BP for Chemical Attacks

Tapolski, Dogs, Humans & Facts vs Faith

Dog Gone and I have been debating Science and Beliefs lately.  It started with his lively critique of Katherine Kersten and her opinion piece: Put People Before Dogs. (opinion piece comments are interesting)  She discusses a study where some folks would save a dog before saving a human.  (NR Dennis Prager's Article)

Now Dog has clarified his thoughts regarding Science, Facts, Faith and Belief in
MPP Faith is Insufficient, Frequently Wrong, and Sometimes Bad.  And since I and apparently others are intermittently blocked over there by system challenges, you get to hear my thoughts and questions...  (you're welcome or sorry)

In summary, it seems that Dog thinks that pretty much everything can resolved by the use of facts and a common ethics system.  Whereas I contend that there are a lot of gray areas where this won't work because some things simply have not been proven conclusively and there are many different philosophy systems out there.  Here is what I was going to respond to Dog's latest comments:

1. Souls, God, Heaven and Hell are neither proven nor not. How do you handle them?
2. Gay gene is just my short hand for they have no choice. Even my most Liberal readers can not provide a "root cause" for where people land on the gay to straight spectrum. (ie a medical test) Apparently the facts are not conclusively there to prove it is not a choice.
3. I believe climate change is occurring and some of it is man made. What no one knows is what the severity will be. Therefore how much of our disposable income should we spend to change? Is it worth disrupting the status quo with huge costly changes, or do we keep improving slowly but surely?
4. It sounds like you want to toss out some of the important parts of the Bible. And I agree that Genesis does seem a bit fantastic even for me. Since you say you are not an Atheist, what "faith" do you have? Remember that faith is to believe in something that can not be proven.
5. Who is we? And which ethics system are you referring to? Since before Socrates humans have been arguing philosophy, ethics, etc. I have to hear the wisdom of “Dog Gone”.

Now my long time readers know that I love my English Springer Spaniel dearly.  Cassie is in fact laying next to me as I write this and she is 8.5 years old.  However maybe based on my farming background, I know that she is a dog with a very limited life span.  Given the choice between saving her or a human, I think I'll be in the market for a new puppy.

 

Thoughts on any of the many topics covered here?

Syria, Obama, Iraq, Bush ?

Eric Ferguson at MPP wrote an interesting piece that is causing some contention between their Liberal commenters.  MPP Syria not Iraq, Obama not Bush  And though I agree with the title, I think that is about where my agreement ends.

I think we had better reasons for bombing and invading Iraq:

1. Saddam had attacked our allies.
2. Saddam was still killing the Kurds and Shiites.
3. The USA was still maintaining the No Fly Zones. (no forseeable end in sight)
4. Iraq has lots of oil and we for better or worse need oil price stability to ensure our economy is stable and growing.
5. For better or worse again, the USA supports fledging democarcies when practical.

Now as for Syria:

1. No attacks on allies, though they support indirectly some attacks on Israel. (but who in the Middle East doesn't...)
2. Assad is killing people, no doubt there.
3. USA has no stake at this time. (ie not half pregnant)
4. USA has no stake at this time. (ie little/no oil in Syria)
5. We should have learned from Iraq/Egypt/Afganistan that Democracies have a real hard time in the Middle East.

 As for Bush and Obama, we knew where Bush stood on foreign policy and he took action that was aligned with it. (for better or worse)  With Obama, no one seems to no where Obama stands on foreign policy, maybe not even Obama himself.

This Syria issue reminds me a lot more of the Balkans and the never ending problems in Africa.  No real reason for the USA to get involved unless we are dedicated to being:

USA: World Police !!!

Thoughts?

CNN Syria Quagmire
CNN Why Not Act
CNN Why Act

G2A Still America's Fault
G2A Iraq, Egypt, Libya and Syria Compared
G2A WAR, What Is It Good For
G2A A Tale of 2 Daughters
G2A Peace Lovers are Confusing
G2A Libya To Help or Not To Help

Immigration Reform: Options

 Per Jerry's request:

"How about a post on immigration? I want to know why there seems to be only two choices being discussed-- "send them all back" or a "path to citizenship" when a) it's a far more complicated situation (NOT amenable to a "comprehensive" bill, IMHO) and b) there are LOTS of choices in between those two extremes that make a lot more sense than either."  J Ewing

 I am short on time right now, however I might add some links and comments later.

Thoughts on what lies between "deport them all" and "reward them all with citizenship"?