Tax-themed Chocolate Bars

Who wouldn’t want to get one of these as a gift?

Government Pay Wars Continue

USA Today has an article stating federal civil servants making more than $100,000 has jumped during the recession.  Is this comparable to allegedly distasteful practices at the big banks?  Are the politicians going to have to answer for practices in government that might be comparable to practices they complain about in the finance industry?

Does it really matter to the overall economy what the compensation is of some people in some sectors?

New More Powerful, Mac-Powered Will

I think the title pretty much sums it up.  Since my old computer was suffering a variety of ailments, at least I hope to be online more regularly now.

Establishing Independence in the United States

The following is the text of the Lee Resolution passed by the Continental Congress on July 2, 1776:

Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.

That it is expedient forthwith to take the most effectual measures for forming foreign Alliances.

That a plan of confederation be prepared and transmitted to the respective Colonies for their consideration and approbation.

Of course, if any entity resolved itself independent today, the U.S. government would likely respond similar to the British government more than 200 years ago.  The government would likely not recognize the very mechanism they used to establish their own authority and further require submission at the point of a gun.

Declaring Independence Is Dangerous Work

U.S. Declaration of Independence:

But when a long Train of Abuses and Usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Objective, evinces a Design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future Security.

Can you imagine anyone writing such a document today, and not being branded an outlaw?  Of course, the founders of the United States were branded outlaws and hunted by the most powerful nation of that era.

Time: A Check on Government Power?

What if government could only operate on certain days of the year?  Like March through June? Just a thought that popped into my brain today.

The Post Office as an Example of a ‘Public Option’

Here is a link to a nice little summary of using the U.S. Post Office as an example of the proposed “public option” in health-care.

One key point that deserves repeating, the U.S. postal service is a monopoly!

Intimidation on Election Day

Today is election day and a good time to think about intimidation in the democratic process of voting.  George F. Will has a recent article on it.  Do you think you have the right to vote your opinion in secret?  Does everyone else have a right to know how you cast your vote?

Some people don’t think you have right to privacy or a secret ballot.  Now what possible reason could they have for knowing your name and voting history?  Maybe they just want to “talk” it over with and “help” you change your mind.

Those Outrageous Health Insurance Profits

Supporters of a government run “public option” in health care insurance routinely claim private health insurance companies are making huge and unfair profits.  But is this true?

On the Fortune 500 list of top industries, health insurance companies ranked 35th in profitability in 2008; their overall profit margin was a mere 2.2 percent. They lagged far behind such industries as pharmaceuticals, which showed a profit margin of 19.3 percent, railroads (12.6 percent), and mining (11.5 percent). Among health insurers, the best performer last year was HealthSpring, which showed a profit of 5.4 percent. “That’s a less profitable margin,’’ AP noted, “than was achieved by the makers of Tupperware, Clorox bleach, and Molson and Coors beers.’’

It doesn’t look to me that health insurance companies are the reported profit boogie man.  Or at least, when can we expect calls for a “public option” for Tupperware?

My Periodic Course Correction

Occasionally, as with all imperfect people, I drift a bit off course.  Unfortunately some of this blog’s posts and at least one of my recent online comments have been overly critical, harsh or disrespectful.

I apologize.  I want this blog as well as my life to be respectful of others.  There is room for criticism, but not disrespect here.

Further and with humility, I do not pretend that I am without faults and failings.  Actually, I am often wrong.