GOVERNMENT FLEXING THEIR NEW SOCIALIST POWER

On the basis of the new Health Care Law the government is trying to impose minimum so-called "medical loss ratios" on health insurers. What does this mean? It means for example that an insurance company is required to pay out between 80 to 85% minimum of its premium revenue for medical payments to subscribers. At the same time the government is also saying that a company cannot make more than so much profit. This is socialism if I have ever heard of an example of it. This is a blatant exercise of government power that is directly against the United States Constitution.

Any insurance company should be free to set any premium rates it wants and to pay out whatever portion of premiums it sees fit. Why? Because that is the capitalist system and the market place will determine if a company will last in the business or not. For example, if a company's premiums are too large and it does pay out claims as it should, it will not last long in business anyway. Customers will naturally buy the best policy they can that has the lowest premiums and pays reasonable claims the way it should. If an insurance company is not doing a good enough job paying claims and/or their premiums are too high they will not be competitive with other companies that do.

In the socialist government system our Democrat political leaders we are now building, the health care industry is just the start. Next will be control of communications(the Internet, radio, TV, and newspapers), transportation, the food industry, and many other industries. The government will then have complete power over the country and individual freedoms will be strictly limited. People will be under continuous surveillance by Big Brother. We will have a police state.

So you think airport screening is tough now? Just wait for the new US Socialist Government to develop its full power.

A PLAN TO UGRADE AMERICAN EDUCATION

Everyone knows that US education, despite having good teachers, is behind the times and way behind other leading countries such as China, Japan, Germany, and others. Also we have a bad problem where a lot of children come out of school and are not really prepared to go to college and don't have any skills or training that would allow them to get a job. Here is my plan.

First change grade school so that by the eighth grade students are computer literate, and at least know American history, English, geometry, and algebra as a minimum. Each subject should have two class structures, one for A-B students, and one for C students, so that the slower learning students don't slow down the faster learning students, but both groups get the best education possible.

Also grade school (and high school students) need interesting and motivating teaching that will get them interested in learning. Feed them breakfast and lunch so that they will have the necessary energy if they need it.

High school needs to be re-organized along the same lines except that now it is time to prepare the C level students for non-college graduate work such as the building trades, mechanical technology,software/IT, crafts, and arts as their interests indicate. The C level group is really an important group as these people will need to be skilled enough to get good jobs so that they will be productive citizens.This will benefit them and the country. We need more skilled people in this country if we are to be productive as a country.

The same is true of the college bound students. They need to be intensely trained in the field that they choose whether they are heading for law, science, engineering, or the social sciences. For example, science and engineering students, should know math up through calculus,and chemistry covering inorganic and organic basics. Also they should be proficient in basic software for computation, and basic physics. All high school students should have some education in finance, investments, stocks, bonds, and real estate with an emphasis on saving and investment for their future needs.

If the grade and high schools are up-graded according to this plan, colleges won't have to spend a lot of time teaching students material they should already know. Finally, college science and engineering studies needs to be up-graded so that America is once again the leader in science and engineering. Write and call your Congressmen and let them know we are very concerned about the poor education in America now and something needs to done!

Everyone should be active in promoting good education for our children. It is more important than the present ridiculous political machinations we are going through.

THE FEDERAL RESERVE'S MONEY MOVE

The Federal Reserve Board's decision to proceed with "quantitative easing" or in simple terms printing more money to buy back government debt is in reality a move to devalue our currency. This will have a number of effects both good and bad. First of all this will cause inflation in our economy. We will have to pay more for food and goods of all types. Our salaries will not go as far. Utility bills will go up. Fuel prices will go up. Seniors Social Security payments will buy less and some seniors will have difficulty just surviving.

What are the good effects? Our exported goods will be more competitive. China and other countries will not be as competitive with our own export goods. Other countries will not get so much of a free ride on our economy as they have been getting. The burdensome value or our public debt will not be as high (so now the Democrats can spend even more money!)

Some people insist that the Fed move is protectionist, and so it is, but it does not go far enough. It is kind of a wimpy adjustment in my view. Also, we need to do a lot more to protect and re-build our own manufacturing base. We need to tax or tariff imports on a fair basis (Fair Trade instead of Free Trade.) If the Fed is really trying to stimulate our economy, a better way would be to issue bonds to collect money to be invested in private business plant, equipment, skills training, and infrastructure which we badly need. Agree with me or not. It is your choice but note that every year we continue to lose industries and jobs is another year closer to the decline and fall of America if we don't do something. Write your Congressmen and tell them what I am saying or whatever you think. But get involved!

WILL REPUBLICANS SUPPORT DEMOCRATIC BILLS?

If the Democrats want to pass any laws, they will now have to convince Republicans to vote with them. Forget any extreme leftist laws passing, as for example the Health Care Law. Such politically extreme laws from either party will not pass in the new gridlock Congress. It is going to be very hard for Congress to increase taxes but it will also be hard for Republicans to get an extension of the Bush tax cuts. So I predict that there will be a de-facto tax increase. If this happens it will be another black eye for the Democrats in 2012. I see 2012 as a further disaster for Democrats unless there are some significant improvements in employment and the real estate market, especially in the area of credit availability.

At some point, regardless of our personal likes and dislikes, we must stop fighting each other, or the USA will turn into another third world debtor nation (We are already a debtor nation.) If America wants to be a prosperous nation and a world leader, we must start cooperating and forget the far left and far right agendas. America still has the great ideal of freedom for all and it should be our goal to promote freedom everywhere in the world. We should not support any country that is not free or discriminates against any minority, race, or religion. This should be our major policy and we should build our country on that basis. There is no reason why we cannot be prosperous and leaders in all forms of technology and business. We should maintain a very strong military and CIA to discourage all would-be attackers and terrorists.

WELCOME TO THE NEW GRIDLOCK CONGRESS

What can happen with a Republican House of Representatives and a Democratically controlled Senate? Well mostly nothing I think. The Health Care Law will not be repealed for one thing. There will be no more massive stimulus except whatever the federal Reserve can do by itself. There will be no new major spending projects either. There will definitely be no major actions on politically sensitive issues such as immigration. Why will this be? Suppose for example, that the House writes a politically sensitive law. The Senate could kill it or they could pass it and send it to the President. But the President will veto it if it contradicts any of his mostly extreme left agenda. Or the Senate could write some leftist bill but the House will not pass it, so it dies. Either way the bill will not be passed. So we will have gridlock in government to a great extent especially on any political issues on which action would offend either the right or the left. But don't forget that the Executive branch our of government which includes the President has a lot of power to take actions in many areas that are not under the direct control of Congress and there are ways to get around Congress such as recess appointments, etc.
And don't forget the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Depts. that can move mountains in the economy if they want to, controlling the money supply, interest rates, bond issues/re-purchases, and many other aspects of the economy. As far as the gridlock is concerned it can actually be a good thing for business as there will be no significant laws that will "rock the boat" so to speak. What does it mean for 2012 though? I think that many Democrats will be in political trouble even more than now if they don't forget about their leftist agendas and start being cooperative with Republicans and working for the people instead of themselves. This includes the President.