Health Care Follies

Mickey Kaus has fun pitting Ezra Klein against Ezra Klein in a health care debate.  I especially like this, from Klein:

People don't like to cut costs in the health-care system. It's painful. Politicians do not voluntarily do painful things. But a lot of people want to achieve universal health care. And they're willing to make a lot of concessions to do so.

Just by way of example, Mr. Klein is willing to raise taxes on people who make more money than he does.  His spirit of sacrifice should be an inspiration to all of us. 

Comments

[clarice]

Kaus vs Klein is no contest..is it?

[Rick Ballard]

Dirty Sock vs Klein is no contest either. We're back to a "tallest midget" game.

At least Kaus admits that the proposed cost shifting is a purely political (and cynical) vote purchase scheme. In the end, no one has more of anything but the truly ignorant (you know - the Democrat base) think they got something for nothing.

I certainly hope both continue to flog Kill Granny with all their puny might. It's a real loser and no econobabble "solution" is going to turn it into a winner.

[Extraneus]

Wait until people get a good dose of Sotomayor.

[clarice]

Maybe they could take the dog and kids with them on a trip to the space shuttle to apologize for space debris or something.

[Extraneus]

Professor Barbara Boxer:

If the Senate doesn't pass a bill to cut global warming, Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer says, there will be dire results: droughts, floods, fires, loss of species, damage to agriculture, worsening air pollution and more.

They need more spokespeople like Barbara Boxer. Serious, credible, beyond reproach.

[clarice]

Maybe we should offer her a bet--of course there will always be droughts, etc whether or not the bill is passed. Let her pick out a date certain for one of these catastrophes and if the bill isn't passed and the event does not occur, she has to retire and forever shut her mouth.

[Sue]

Do any of these fools know that Al Gore went from $2 million to $200 million on the sham he is sticking down our throats? Why aren't people on our side screaming that? Cheney made a few million off of a legitimate job and the crowd roars. Millions upon millions are scammed from people by Gore and the silence hurts your ears.

[narciso]

You know she could just run a tape of CCR's
"Bad Moon Rising" and it would sound better

[jean]

OT Clarice do you ever see these SEN. or Congressman around town?If so are they as strange in real life as they appear on TV?

[Rob Crawford]

But, Sue, Gore's one of the Anointed. He deserves the money, because they know he'll spend it The Right Way.

[jean]

IF Boxers correct it will only make John Holren job easier.I would think the Dems would be all for death and destruction.A good way to get the overpopulation under control

[Rick Ballard]

Kaus really didn't get anywhere near to plumbing the full depth of Klein's credentialed morony. He cuts a slice off [bold]:

This isn't terribly surprising: it's not obvious what health-care reform will do for the average American. I could give you a long answer about delivery system reforms and so forth because it's my job to know these things. But it would have to be a long answer. The basic structure of health-care reform has been specifically built to avoid changing people's existing arrangements. The hope was that Americans would be convinced that their health-care coverage wouldn't change for the worse. But that's also made it hard to explain why it will get better.

but you have read the whole paragraph in order to evaluate the waste of time involved in reading anything written by Klein. Every flimflam artist hopes for dumber suckers - he needs to learn to be satisfied with the nitwits at the WaPo who hired him.

[Old Lurker]

Jean, my answer to your OT to Clarice. Bet she agrees. The ones you hate on TV are even worse in real life. Jerk*** senators in particular are over-groomed, over-coiffed, over-manicured, and dull. Frankly the lobbyists who service them are just as bad. They tend to be the sort you hated in middle school. Those who seem OK on TV are often quite normal in real life.

Here's an image you will enjoy: One of the Lurker family's favorite restaurants in Nantucket is very small with some tables and with old fashioned lunch counter facing the cook area and the chefs at work. The lunch counter arrangement notwithstanding, it is a serious restaurant, hard to get in, and expensive. There is a rear door at the far end of the lunch counter. When Lurch is on island enjoying John Heinz's beautiful Nantucket mansion, he often slips in the back door and sits at the end stool. Alone. And NOBODY ever speaks to him or wants to. And that's his state! Did you know he served in Viet Nam?

[Jane]

I thought Orrin Hatch rocked a few minutes ago. It surprised the heck out of me.

(He raised the Obama standards for SC nominees noting that our president has never actually voted FOR a supreme Court nominee while senator.

I missed Jeff Sessions but I heard he rocked too.

[narciso]

I didn't know that OL, it must the world's best kept secret, you know Taranto has suggested something like that. I haven't met too many politicians, well Xavier Suarez
(before he went crazy) spoke at my high school graduation, I once ran into Gaviria, the Latin version of Al Gore who headed the OAS (seems a contradiction in terms), and he was exactly what you'd expect

[RichatUF]

Rick-

The hope was that Americans would be convinced that their health-care coverage wouldn't change for the worse.

Ha. Because anything the private sector can do, the government can do more efficiently and cheaply.

Maybe I ought to apply to be a WaPo writer.

[Ignatz]

--People don't like to cut costs in the health-care system. It's painful.--

It's not just painful, it's deadly.

[Old Lurker]

Narc, perhaps politicians disgust me so much I am just jaded about them...

[jimmyk]

Re Boxer:

I can confidently predict that "there will be droughts, floods, fires, loss of species, damage to agriculture, worsening air pollution, and more" whether or not the Senate passes a bill to cut global warming.

Now whether there will be more or less of those things might be affected by the passage of the bill, but not in the direction she seems to think (if "think" is the right word here). A lot of those things tend diminish with increased prosperity, so if we impoverish ourselves with CO2 reduction we'll likely see more.

[Mike Myers]

Old Lurker--I sorta enjoy the image of Lurch down at the end of the lunch counter in a cone of silence. The Brits would say he's been put in Coventry. Considering all of the harm that Lurch has done in his misbegotten life, that's not a bad place for him to be. He's only the second worst Senator from Massachusetts.

[Jane]

OL -

I'm trying to decide what restaurant that is. Is it on Main street?

[Old Lurker]

Jane, nope. Think higher up the hill....

[Rick Ballard]

"Maybe I ought to apply to be a WaPo writer."

Rich,

I don't think that you could successfully fake the level of ignorance required. You've just never had the indoctrination necessary to type that sort of gibberish day after day.

[Fresh Air]

From Barone today:

And they're dealing with a president who has shown a striking lack of interest in details and whose single legislative achievement so far -- the $787 billion stimulus package passed in February -- has visibly failed in its asserted goal of holding unemployment down to 8 percent.

He isn't interested in details because (a) it's the Marxism that he likes, not the legislation; and (b) all those big words in legal documents make his head hurt.

[Old Lurker]

Jane, if you take me up on my standing offer, we'll buy you dinner there and not just a drink! Aug through Sept 9. Not the week of 8/22-29 (too much company).

[Old Lurker]

Speaking of reporting, over the weekend it was reported (Wash Times I think) the stink arising from Obama's attempt to appoint more than the usual share of ambassador posts to donors and cronies. Seems the "standing deal" with State is that 30% of those can be political favors, but 70% are for career diplomats. Seems nobody at the WH knew that and the dips raised a stink. Hard to pick a favorite in that flap isn't it?

[Old Lurker]

Aug 1...Sep 9

[clarice]

jean, in my younger days i saw a lot of them. For one thing my husband was chief counsel of the Senate Permanent Investigations Subcommittee. For another we both represented Wolf Trap and the Kennedy Center in their birth and early years.
His firm does a lot of legislative work and I used to be forced to attend dinners/fundraisers, etc. Now that I'm old enough to refuse I barely see them.
I recall that Ted Stevens and Bob Dole were both surprisingly funny and Sam Nunn and his wife were very down to earth and nice to be with. Senator Percy was a major jerk. Metzenbaum was a shakedown artist and nasty to boot.
(I probably should be more discrete..But I guess what I'm saying is generally what you see is what you get..and the more decked out, the more phony.

[Old Lurker]

"For another we both represented Wolf Trap and the Kennedy Center in their birth and early years."

Good for you, Clarice. Both are DC treasures. Mrs. Lurker and now Lurker daughter #2 have performed at both a number of times.

[Fresh Air]

...more than the usual share of ambassador posts to donors and cronies...

This administration is starting to look like an episode of "The Jeffersons." Will they be selling the White House flatware on eBay, too?

[Old Lurker]

Naw, FA, Jefferson actually knew how to run a business, and he earned the money enabling him to move on up.

[Rob Crawford]

Metzenbaum was a shakedown artist and nasty to boot.

Never had to meet him to know that.

[MayBee]

I love Mickey.

[MayBee]

Ezra Klein is a policy wonk like many baseball players' wives are "models".

[Jane]

OL - I'm gonna do my best - particularly now that you have dates. But I'm trying to imagine a hill in Nantucket.

Will you be online at that time so I can reach you?

[Old Lurker]

Yes, Jane, we are online the entire time. If DoT can do JOM from Hawaii, I can do it from Nantucket...and you have my email.

I was describing Black Eyed Susan's.

[Jane]

I don't think I've ever been there. A new adventure. I can't wait!

[jimmyk]

Never had to meet him to know that.

At the risk of offending someone here, people who get rich in the parking lot business are generally pretty unsavory types, since it usually requires political connections, inside information, if not outright bribery.

[Old Lurker]

Jane:

http://www.black-eyedsusans.com/

[clarice]

jimmy and it's a CASH business if you get my drift.

[Jane]

Oh yum OL - it looks great!

[Jane]

Nancy Pelosi is rolling out her healthcare plan at 3:00 today.

(Free botox for elected officials!)

[glenda]

OL..I think of you and your family, Clarice's, Rick's when I think of DC and feel so much better than when Lurch or Leahy have a platform...
My Mother wanted to name me Susan because of my black eyes, but settled for my Dad's choice of Glenda (after her, Mary Glenn)
sounds like a great place, if you can get in.
We just got our grandson a piano to see if he has a talent for it before $$$lessons..his other therapies are so expensive..It is a full size upright, but the keyboard can be electronic, too--since so many autistic children learn from memorization of sounds. Nothing like your family, but maybe one day--we throw everything up and see what he catches. He usually surprises everyone, too!

[glenda]

Jane..
phooey on the botox..I want some Armani suits!

[Captain Hate]

people who get rich in the parking lot business

I was scrolling up from the bottom and immediately knew who this was referring to. Major POS who did his best to keep everybody after him from realizing the American dream. I loved when he tried to tithe his seat to sleazy son-in-law Joel Hyatt; that worked out well.

[Old Lurker]

Glenda, throwing everything up in the air is the story of my life! Good luck.

Because their youngest son is Autistic, my partner and his wife are among the organizers of the "Autism Speaks" run/walk here in DC, and as sponsors we get sent all sorts of data and support for the work they do with money contributed. Great group, and encouraging research. So hang in there.

[glenda]

OL-yes sir! We are members also and I credit Autism Speaks for raising the awareness regarding this puzzling phenomenon, so no child is ever "isolated" by it. Hanging in IS the story of our lives!

[J.]

There is a grass roots campaign that a few of us are encouraging as a way to send a message to the politicians that they better be very careful how they vote on this legislation.

If you agree join us in calling for Senator Dodd's resignation.

All you need to do is post on the internet and spread the word that this is important to you. Tell your friends or carry signs at Tea Parties that call for Senator Dodd's resignation.

This behavior out of DC has to stop and this is a powerful grass roots way to send a message to the politicians.

I hope you join us.

[Manuel Transmission]

Metzenbaum was a shakedown artist and nasty to boot.

I had the misfortune of moving to Ohio about the time this a$$clown was in office. He inspired me to coin the term logical dyslexia.

Up to that point, I had only heard my Senator, Barry Goldwater, speak and that always made perfect sense to me.

[Melinda Romanoff]

OL-

No offense intended, but was your partner over 40 when his youngest was conceived? There's some interesting research being conducted about this angle.

And we preferred Chin's, but then I'm dating myself, or 21 Federal.

[glenda]

Mel-my grandson's parents were both 28 when he was conceived. Our boy was fine until @20 months and he started regressing--no speech--took 6mo to get dx of autism, then heavy intervention-today is very smart mainstreamed 3rd grader with highest average in his class...and they told us he would maybe have a vocabulary of 10 words or learn to sign..he is affected most in his socialization skills, still; but is the greatest gift from God.

[Melinda Romanoff]

That's fantastic. A bow to the parents, and grandparents for their efforts. I only brought it up, as sensitive a subject as it is, there is some investigation into genetic influences, and, in some cases, the age of the genes involved. The mystery surrounding it's cause is personally fascinating and a scientific branch I follow avidly.

And , as a side note, do you think Bill Gates, or Steve Wozniak, had "socialization skill" issues?

The "gift" list is pretty big, but I like yours better. Thank you for sharing that, I sometimes get too wrapped up in the science and step on toes.

[Stephanie]

High functioning autism is statistically high in the tech fields. Gates, Wozniak, et al are probable candidates.

LUN to an old article exploring the possibilities.

[Melinda Romanoff]

I agree completely Stephanie. I have often wondered whether or not that there isn't some sort of "balance" the brain tries to achieve when there is a higher synapse count and maturity. It could almost be seizure-like with the sensory overload of the denser count brain than with lighter count. Maturity would help in coping with the input, but immaturity would strengthen the ability to think without distraction after self-training.

I think I need to read more, there seems to be a lot left "out" of the discussion when it comes to this.

Thanks, you loaded me up with some new avenues, just never put them together.

[Stephanie]

YVW.. "Geek Syndrome" is gaining alot of attention in certain areas of the country. Some have tried to tie it to vaccinations but that feels more like an opportunistic marriage to me.

I have an HFA child and probably am one, too (although I managed to develop good coping mechs). I read extensively on the subject when her dx came down. Since then, I have always steered her into the sciences as that seems to be a good fit for her. Her coping skills are not very good at present and it is difficult for her to socialize. Imitation of others feels "fake" to her.

Golf has been a godsend as she has found an outlet that she can garner kudos (she had a 92 on Saturday - she is shooting for top 5 in the state by next season) and is still a self contained accomplishment. Added feature... you never master golf and thus can't exhaust the puzzles associated with it.

Many HFAs may be diagnosed as manic, too, but I don't know if that is a symptom of a waning interest in their subject du annum after learning everything there is to know about it and floudering for another one to launch into or just exhaustion from their feverish intensity and lack of sleep.

Let me know what you find.

[glenda]

well, I'm not sure about just techs..my daughter's degrees are undergraduate-BS/Laboratory sciences and MS/blood banking/pathology.UTMB '00 But we have both looked back and decided we too have minor touches of autism , but learned better coping skills through the years.
And our boy would rather build things or search for planetary routes than play sports. He has low stamina and co-ordination, but he swims? everyday.

[Order Soma]

We need to focus more on our health care insurance, reform and changes is what our leaders must do!

[pills]

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