The Dukes of Moral Hazard County

I've been meaning to touch on this subject for a while but I'll leave it to Dr. Thomas Sowell, a professor of economics to explain it better in this article on Human Events. Despite years of education in economics and politics it took a health care economics class to open my eyes to this simple truth, as a result of moral hazard, insurance increases the cost of health care in a cyclical pattern. Uncle Milty would be proud of you Dr. Sowell, keep preaching truth.

Down Goes Frazier!

The DOW Jones Industrial Average closed today at a 7 week low, once again dipping under 10,000. How's that "summer of recovery" coming for you, President Obama?

I May Have a Man Crush on Governor Chris Christie

Governor Chris Christie (R. NJ) ripped into the federal government over the beauraucratic nonsense that is Washington, D.C. for denial of a grant based on a single clerical error in a 1,000 page application. I encourage you to do some research on what he's done in his short time as governor of New Jersey. You may learn to love him as I do.

How Do You Spell Machismo in Russian?

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (and I would argue he is a de facto tyrant) is known for trying to display his manliness. He was recently pictured riding horseback shirtless. Now he is apparently whale hunting with a crossbow. While it all seems innocent enough, and probably pretty laughable, to me I see an ego maniac trying to show his country what a tough man he is. I would not be surprised in the least if he makes further moves to consolidate power under him.

All Right, Let's Give This Another Go

I've been absent for a bit too long I think and I've forgotten how cathartic this can be. So, back to it.

What Can Michael Chricton Teach Us?

I love Michael Chricton novels. I even suspended disbelief to read the sequel to Jurassic Park. I have read as many of his essays and transcripts of his speeches as I can find. He has helped form my opinions on climate change and science. But the thing I think I may take away from his work the longest is a line from a movie he wrote and directed based upon a book he wrote on a dare under a pseudonym.

For all that we ought to have thought but have not thought,

For what we ought to have done but have not done,

For what we ought to have said, but have not said,

I pray thee merciful Father, for forgiveness.

The Thirteenth Warrior.

Time for Me to Start Working on that Book Again

Elena Kagan has been confirmed to the Supreme Court. This is pathetic.

I'm Sure This Will be Efficient

A diagram of the agencies created in the health care bill. I'm positive that this will somehow reduce waste and make health care cheaper in much the same way I'm positive that there is no such thing as the Mississippi River.

No Comment

This is one of the more despicable things I've ever heard of coming out of a church. OK, I guess that is a comment.

The Times They Are a Changin'

I have been very concerned that the dissatisfaction with President Obama has been distorted in that the far left has been disappointed and polls were not reflecting a more conservative nation worried about expansion of the federal government. Last night, Missouri lifted my spirits. Over 70% of Missouri voters approved of a provision to ban the mandatory purchase of health insurance policies in the state. While a number of state legislatures passed similar laws which are the source of the state suits against the federal government, Missouri is the first state to put the matter to a public vote. Is this overwhelming defeat a litmus test for the November elections? Probably not, as Missouri is a more conservative state than many. The huge majority vote, however, does indicate that this is a revolution from the right and that the national mood may be leaning more conservative. Now if we could just make sure Republicans read the Constitution as well...

Today's Recommended Reading

Ed Wallace's Inside Automotive (yes, mother, I do read it) site linked to this Fort Worth Star Telegaram article about a dispute over EPA regulations on drilling for natural gas. The part that I took away from it is that the regulatory structure of the EPA has placed the federal government in a position to have to respond to lawsuits to enforce the regulations by environmental groups which forces that agenda to advance faster. I don't want to get ahead of the movement, but the next step for the Tea Parties is to start tearing down the bureaucracy and destroying the power of the administrative branch to legislate.

Still Waters Run Corrupt

As I wrote about many moons ago, Representative Maxine Waters (D. Cali.), was on a list of investigations into the corruption of public officials. Note that the leaked list included members of both parties. As you've probably already noted, Rep. Charles Rangel (D. NY) has had charges filed against him which were long overdue and now, so has Ms. Waters. According to the charges, Ms. Waters facillitated meetings to try and funnel stimulus funds to a bank on which her husband served as a member of the board and in which he held significant investments. Repbulicans had better be careful about how much they try and trumpet these charges because it is likely they aren't exactly pure as the driven snow. There is a culture of corruption in Washington, D.C. that absolutely must change if we have any chance to preserve the republic as our founding fathers intended.

EPA Moves to Regulate Dust

Yes, you read that correctly. The Environmental Protection Agency is considering a crackdown on farm dust. This has got to stop.

I AM THE LAW!!

It's not just for cheesy Sylvester Stallone comic book adaptations anymore (Judge Dredd). Representative Pete Stark (D. Cali.), clearly an adherent to constitutional principles, says the federal government can do most anything in this country. There you have it, liberals believe that there are no limits to government power. Be afraid, be very afraid.

No Wonder Marion Barry Kept Winning Elections

As I watch MSNBC this morning (may the self punishment never end) I noticed an article on Yahoo! about an administration report showing $8 billion in savings. Great news! The article goes on to note how cuts in Medicare spending will reduce rates for those dependent upon the program. That crack cocaine problem in D.C. seems to be still in place.

The Russian Problem

President George Bush, Jr., famously said he'd looked into then Russian President Vladimir Putin's eyes and found him straightforward and trustworthy. President Obama took it further and is one step away from having simply offered his surrender to now Prime Minister Putin (there are a number of posts in that link all mentioning Putin). Now, this article from American Thinker demonstrates the continued move of the former Soviet Republic to something that resembles, well, the former Soviet Republic. The only good part of this is I really liked "Red Dawn".