The Need for a Positive Approach to the Medical System in the United States

The First Thing that needs to be said here is that the Medical System in the United States does need to be drastically reformed.  It is the most expensive Medical System in the World and No. 2 does not even come close.  To make Things worse, someone who lives in the United States has about the same Life Expectancy as one does in Cuba, Way behind Places like Japan, Italy, France, Switzerland, Germany or, say, even behind Singapore or Cyprus.

 

Chart showing the astronomical Rise of Health Care Costs in the United States

The Health Care Reform Act (so called „Obamacare”) is an Attempt at doing precisely that.  However, what started as a well intentioned and even noble Effort was deteriorated by Compromise after Compromise and became filled with Loopholes which, not unexpectedly, Health Insurance Providers are eagerly trying to exploit.

Just to set something in Perspective:  the United States has the highest paid Doctors in the World.  Many Doctors who graduate from Medical School in Foreign Countries, where the Cost of getting this Education is Zero or near Zero, trek over as soon as they can to the United States where they can earn 100 Times or 1.000 Times more than they can in the Country where they went to School, leaving their Governments angry at having invested in their Education but not being able to retain Doctors in their own Country, where they are so desperately needed.

Doctors are just one additional Problem.  Hospitals have in place Elaborate Systems to extract the Maximum possible Revenue not only from Insurers but from the Government as well, when providing Medicare or Medicaid covered Services.  Both the Government and Insurance Companies fight back.  Some think, Hospitals know how to outsmart not only the Insurance Companies but, more importantly, the Government.

If you are an Individual who would pay out of your own Pocket for Medical Care without having any Insurance, forget it.  The so called „List Prices” for Facilities and Services could be (and generally are) several Times higher than what the contracted Prices which the Insurance Companies or the Government pays are.

One Example that has been used alegorically over and over is the Cost of an MRI, which is the modern Version of a simple X-Ray.  Sometimes, just an X-Ray might suffice but, not surprisingly, Hospitals almost exclusively do MRI's which can be/are far more profitable.  Just how profitable?  The List Price for an MRI can vary, are you ready for this, anywhere from $ 800,00 up to $ 17.000,00 at some Hospitals.  And that, according to a recent investigative Report, for the same exact Procedure.

Ever wondered what an MRI costs in Germany?  We can end your Suspense:  $ 160,00.  France:  $ 160,00.  Italy?  $ 140,00.  Japan, which has one of the highest Cost of Living Indexes in the World?  $ 60,00.  All, using the same Equipment.  Now, an MRI is no indication of how long you are going to live but it can be more than a Coincidence that People in Japan live the longest followed by those in Italy.

There have been well publicized Problems with the Federal Government's Health Insurance Marketplace Website; These were not to be unexpected and certainly will be resolved, probably sooner rather than later.  The Problem, however, lies deeper than that.

Most People are clearly dissatisfied with the Situation as it currently stands and is developing.

http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/10/30/21252291-poll-majority-think-health-law-needs-overhaul-or-elimination?lite

The Question, we believe, is just what Kind of a Path is necessary to go forward, whether Congress, the Health Insurance Industry, Hospitals, Doctors and Health Workers want to hear it or not.  Health Care in the United States consumes, if one includes the Cost of Litigation (such as Malpractice) associated with Health Care to more than 18% of the GNP, a staggering Amount.  Even without the Cost of Litigation, it is in Excess of 16%.  Some sort of National or quasi National Reform which would include Coverage ensuring reasonably unform Health Care for all Americans is not only necessary, but also overdue, way, way, way overdue.  Bismark figured this out way back in the 1890's.  Every other industrialized Nation and many others in the lower Tier have some System to deal with Health Care for its Population in some Form or another.  There are Similarities as well as Differences between the Systems that various Countries use.  That is not only understandable but to be expected.

And, as President Obama stated (and conceded, although others did not), one must start from building by drawing on the System that is already in Place.

Looking at the American Precedents already in Place, why not keep everybody's Insurance where it is (which is what was originally envisioned), take all the uninsured under the Threat of a Penalty (as the Legislation does now) and throw them into a Medicare/Medicaid/quasi Medicare/Medicaid Program and then, based upon Verification of Employment or Self Employment, charged them a Premium based on Income/Ability for Coverage.  Then take the Insurance Premium which would be actuarially appropriate for that Individual and throw it on an Insurance Company based on a statistical Pool.  Insurance Companies which throw Individuals out of their Plans hoping to cash in on the Bonanza, would be discouraged in doing that because all that would happen to those Cases is, the Government would turn around and throw the Policies back at them through this Assigned Risk Pool and charge the Premiums which should prevail; they would be the same or lower as what the Individuals would have had under their previous Plan, since the Insurance Companies would try to change the Insurance Plan only for those who they thought they could get more Money from.

Bottom Line, except for General Rate Revisions (which is not what one should be talking about right now), all Insurance Health Insurance Policies which are already in Place, should not be changed based on „Technicalities” (Change in Provisions, number of Insured Covered and so on).  This, however is not what is happening right now and, some say, 14-18 Million Americans could be either left without Health Coverage or be forced to pay significantly higher or exorbitant Rates or, worse, be thrown out of the Insurance Pool altogether.  This is the very opposite of what the Law is trying to accomplish.

http://investigations.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/10/29/21222195-obama-administration-knew-millions-could-not-keep-their-health-insurance?lite

Another Thing that would resolve the Mess (this, based on Systems used in other Countries); if you are unemployed (with insufficient Assets), then the Government picks up the Insurance Premium until you are re-employed; if you are married, then the whole Family is covered under the Premium, even if Wife (oops! Or Husband)/Children are unemployed/not working and if your Wife/Child/ren seek/obtain Employment, they do have to pay their Premium and so do you.  Translation:  everybody working pays a Premium and everybody not working has Insurance based on working Family Member(s) or the Government.  Retirees would continue to get Medicare as they currently do.  Medicare Part B is already based on Ability to pay, since the Cost incurred by the Government per Beneficiary is $ 400,00 or so.  Most pay $ 100,00 or so but, even if on Medicare and having Part B, if someone has or is making abover certain Thresholds, they have to pay more, up to the entire $ 400,00 or so.  Finally, for Retirees, the Concept that Medicare Part A is paid 100% by the Government for all, then Medicare Part B is paid partially by the Government for most and that, regardless, on Top of that, one needs still additional Insurance in Order to reach a Deductible Level which they can afford...well...that sounds, no it doesn't sound, it is a Can of Worms in which Doctors, Hospitals, Clinics and Insurance Companies only see Billions and Billions of Dollar Signs.

 

Finally, someone woke up and removed the Cap on the Medicare Tax.  That is a good Thing.  Currently, however the Medicare Tax Rate is 0,9%.  Why the Medicare Tax Rate (which is supposed to cover  Medicare Costs on a current Basis...those working today pay for the Health Care of Retirees) does not even come Close to covering what it costs the Government to provide Medical Care to Retirees defies Credulity.  Keep in Mind, this is just to draw a Parallel on Priorities, The Fed(eral Reserve Bank), (Mr. Bernanke), is spending $ 82 Billion a Month (a Figure not included in the Federal Deficit), simply for his Quantitative Easement Theory (he would call it a Policy), the only tangible Result of which has been to propel the Stock Market (Dow Jones) to over 15.000 Points.

 

 

31 December 2012 - The Fiscal Cliff and Negative Energy

The Reality of the impending ,, Fiscal Cliff ’’ has reached Washington, today, New Year's Eve.  After Weeks of Predictions by various Pundits both inside and outside of the Government that a ,, Last Minute Deal ’’ would be reached, now, it appears that, at best, some Sort of ,, Last Minute Patchwork ’’ is the best one can hope for.

Former Senator Alan Simpson was ridiculed by both Democrats and Republicans for uploading a Video on YouTube in which he ,, danced ’’ well, sort of, along a Can of Soda (or, maybe was it a Beer Can?), symbolically pointing out to what is likely to happen, which is, kicking the Can forward.

There are numerous Factors which have contributed to reaching this sad Situation and this Column would like to attempt to refresh our Recollections as to how we may have gotten to where we are and why it seems that both Congress and The President appear so powerless in finding a Solution, a real Solution, not a Patchwork.

To this, we also wish to add the Following Observation.  One of the Attributes which is necessary for the Political Leadership and, yes, the Political Infantrymen as well, to find Solutions to or in difficult Situations is Enthusiasm, Élan and just a pure Desire to get Things (or at least something) accomplished.  This Attribute, this Force is lacking, lacking so glaringly that one cannot but feel the
,, Negative Energy ’’ which surrounds those who must struggle and find a Solution.

But what are the Factors which got the Federal Government into this horrid Situation and who was responsible for getting us there?  The List is long.  Below, we can only attempt to enumerate some of the Factors, likely important ones but certainly not all of the important ones along with Reasons why addressing these Problems is ultimately necessary in order to address the ,, Fiscal Cliff ’’ as well as the surrounding Decisions which need to be made (increasing the Federal Debt Ceiling).

§  Afghanistan - Defense Expenditures.  It is generally accepted by a good Number of People now that the War in Afghanistan has been a Financial Disaster.  Expenditures in Afghanistan as well as Iraq and Pakistan need to be addressed as President Reagan would have put it, with a
,, Red Pencil.’’ 

§  Income Tax Rates.  It is Time not only for the Republicans but for everyone else to recognize that the Principle of
,, Reaganomics ’’  which theorized that the Government can eventually raise more Revenue by lowering Taxes (and stimulating the Economy) is, basically, what President G. Herbert Walker Bush called ,,Voodoo Economics.’’  Moreover, specifically as to Corporate Income Tax Rates, while it is true that some Industrialized Countries have lower Corporate Income Tax Rates than the United States, none has the Array of Tax Deductions and Loopholes, some, custom written by Congress which are available to many large Corporations in the United States.  Returning to the pre-Bush (G. W. Bush) Era Tax Cuts for People earning in Excess of $ 250.000,00 is really not only a modest but also a sensible Solution and no credible Argument has been put forward that such a Move would result in the Loss of Jobs or Job Creation.

§  Restore Social Security, Medicare and related Social Costs to the pre Clinton Status Quo of ,,Trust Funds.’’  This will prevent future Presidents from claiming that they have ,,balanced the Budget’’ by shifting Funds around and raiding Funds which show large Surpluses (or even small Surpluses).

§  Remove the Social Security Tax Cap which currently stands at $110.000,00.  Think about this for a Minute.  More important than the Rate paid by Employees (currently lower than the Rate paid by the Employers, somebody forgot the ,,creating Jobs’’ Argument on that one by not reducing the Employers’ Contribution Rate) is that all the huge Earnings by Corporate Executives and Wall Street Bonus Recepients are exempt from Social Security Taxes; once they've paid the $ 110,000.00, the are home free.

§  Put Pressure on the Federal Reserve in general and Mr. Bernanke in particular to abandon ill advised Theories of ,,Quantitatve Easing’’ and what not by pouring Billions of Dollars into the Stock Market.  This is simply irresponsible.  The Stock Market is jittery at the Prospect of the Fiscal Cliff simply because it loves ,, Easy Money.’’  Even though the Stock Market has propelled to new Heights since the Start of the Fiscal Crisis (generously not referred to as a Depression but as a Deep Recession), this has had very little Impact, if any, on the Economy.

§  Abstain from huge Expenditures into Support Ventures
(,, Bailouts ’’) of large and even not so large Corporations such as AIG, General Motors, Solindra and others.    Although AIG has technically repaid all of the Government Loans this does not  account for Billions of Tax Breaks which AIG has received from the Government.  Besides, much of AIG has now been sold to China.  The General Motors Bailout is costing the Government Billions in Net Losses.  Somebody said, ,,Give me $ 60 Billion and I can show you how I can make a Profit.’’  It would be good to consider, at least, the Opinion of some Experts who contend that it will not be possible for General Motors to succeed as a viable Entity.

There are other Issues and Areas to be addressed but we wanted to list just a few.

Additionally, however, another Warning regarding a great Disservice which the Federal Reserve and Mr. Bernanke are doing to the Budget.  The Fed is keeping Interest Rates low, almost at Zero, to be exact.  This helps Banks and Financial Institutions which are entitled to borrow directly from the Fed and then reap huge Profits in large, complex and sometimes questionable Financial Transactions.  This does not help the Consumer, or even most Business Owners, who must pay a Bank or a Financial Institution nearly Ten Times, or more, in Interest, than what the Financial Institution needs to pay to acquire the Funds.

But there is a hidden Danger.  The Fed cannot keep Interest Rates at such low Rates at Infinitum.  Some Day, after Mr. Bernanke leaves (and he wants to leave soon), Interest Rates will have to, at best, inch or creep upwards and when that happens, the Cost of borrowing Money for the Federal Government will rocket astronomically.  The Rate on Federal Borrowing may one Day be dictated by Markets and The Fed may not be in a Position to dictate what it will be.  This has happened elsewhere, as we all know, only too well.  In such an Event, the Impact of Debt Service, not to mention the Cost of new Borrowing on the Federal Government will be not a pleasant Thing, as it is today for Mr. Bernanke to play around with announcing what the Interest Rates will be and throwing Money around into the Financial Markets while he invents new Names, such as ,, Quantitative Easing’’ for Things which aren't really that new at all.

Fiscal Cliff

Recent Reports suggest that soon, a Family of Four will be paying $ 25.000,00 for Health Insurance annually and that, with less Coverage and higher Deductibles.

While the Affordable Care Act (so called Obamacare) is a Step in the Right Direction, it is, some suggest, not nearly enough to bring under Control Medical Costs.

Various Statistics reveal the following:

§ Medical Costs in the United States are the highest in the World.  The Second Runner Up is at less than half.

§ Doctors in the United States earn the highest Incomes of any Doctors anywhere, so much so that Doctors from less affluent Countries who have a Medical Education in English (it is considerably more difficult to pass the Boards with a non English Medical Education) are clamoring to get a Foothold in the United States and practice, yes, practice Medicine, of course.

§ Despite all this, Life Expectancy in the United States is just about Neck in Neck with Life Expectancy in, of all Places, some place like Cuba.  There are a Multitude of Reasons for this, of course, including Dietary Factors but, still, one would expect more, given the Costs of Health Insurance and Health Care.

§ A Common Medical Procedure, known as an MRI costs, on Average, according to some Statistics, $ 2.500,00 in the United States.  It can be performed at some Outpatient Clinics for as low as $ 600,00 and one Reporter recently found a Hospital in Boston which charges in Excess of $ 7.000,00 for this exact same Procedure.  Health Insurance Companies have Contracts under which they pay less (why should people who pay for Medical Care out of their own Pocket have to pay more is a Question which deserves being raised and be examined on its own Merits).  The more interesting Thing, though, is that the same exact Procedure, an MRI costs approximately $ 160,00 in Germany, France and Italy.  In Japan, a Country not exactly known for low Costs, it costs $ 60,00.  They all use the same exact Equipment, manufactured by either Siemens or GE and, at least two of the four Countries above, Germany and Japan, are not exactly known for low Wages.

What is going to be compromised between Mr. Obama and Mr. Boehner with regard to the ,,Fiscal Cliff,'' whatever that means, is yet to be revealed and it is probably not known by either of them at this Moment.

However, one Item which has come up is the new Medicare Taxes which will be going into Effect 1 January 2013, as a Result of Legislation passed by Congress and signed by Mr. Obama.  This Legislation provides, no, it does not provide for new Taxes, it establishes the Provision that Medicare Taxes should continue on Wages in Excess of $200.000,00 (for Single Taxpayers) and $ 250.000,00 (for Married Taxpayers).

http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/11/15846903-democrats-seek-delay-in-one-obamacare-tax-increase?lite

Suddenly, this Provision has now come under Scrutiny and may be sacrificed as part of the Negotiations to avoid the so called ,,Fiscal Cliff.''  We do not understand this Point.

The Congress and the President of the United States can decide what the Obligations (including the financial Obligations) of the Federal Government will be on a Year to Year Basis.  Some of these Obligations are inescapable, they are either dictated by Law or by Contracts (such as Debt Interest, for Example).  How are Wage Earners who make more than $ 200.000,00 or $ 250.000,00 ,,hurting'' the Economy by paying 1,45% of their Wages for Medicare Tax on Income above that Amount?

Paranthetically, another Tax which is equally regressive is the Social Security Tax, currently at 4,2% for Employees, but only on the First $110.000,00 of their Wages.  Translated, that means, of course, that People who get huge Salaries, sometimes $ 500.000,00, sometimes $ 5.000.000,00 or even more, simply pay that $ 4.000,00 or so in Social Security Tax and then are 4,2% ahead for every Dollar they earn from $110.000,00 forward.

One Thing is apparent.  With this Kind of Manœvering, if it comes into Play, very little is going to get accomplished.  And the Can will be kicked forward.

The Problem with President Clinton

The Problem the Democrats have with President Clinton, but do not or do not want to recognize, at least not yet, is similar to the Problem Republicans have with President Reagan but, it may be, that Republicans do not recognize their Problem, not yet anyway, either.  Certainly, the Republicans do not want to recognize it, though.

However, President Reagan has slowly began to fade from Memory, that ,,Great Communicator'' who had to have ,,Handlers'' when it came to Presidential Debates.  President Reagan caused enormous and, one might say, irreparable Damage by stimulating the Economy with enormous Deficits which expanded the Economy, created a Lot of rich People but also started the Build Up of an unprecedented Debt Load.  After a brief Hiatus during the 4 Year Presidency of President George H. W. Bush (Bush ,,41'', who called ,,Reaganomics'' ,,Voodoo Economics'') President Clinton not only continued President Reagan's Tradition but even praised it.

So now President Clinton whose salacious Activities with Monica Lewinsky have long ago faded from Memory, he and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton now boast, he knew how to balance the Budget.  Yeah, he did.  But how he did it is the more interesting Part.  President Clinton took the Postal Service Retirement Fund ($ 7 Billion) as well as the Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds (which were enormous Sums of Money) and threw them into the General Budget thusly creating a huge but temporary Infusion of Cash and, ,,Poof!,'' it looked as if the Budget was ,,balanced,'' but, again, only temporarily.  Now, not only the U. S. Postal Service but, far more worrying, Social Security and Medicare are in dire Straits.  Everyone is scared of raising the Payroll Tax Deduction Ceiling (now at $ 110,000 for People earning $ 110 Million, or $ 11 Million or even $ 1,1 Million because it would ,,discourage'' the Creation of new Jobs?).  President Clinton's Two Terms were then followed by the two economically disastrous Terms of President George W. Bush (Bush ,,43,'' the Dubya) and during his Term and after that, we all know what happened.  The Federal Deficit now adds up to $ 16 Trillion, give or take a Couple of Pennies and nobody has come up with a Plan of any Kind as to how this Deficit might begin to be retired.  Statements by the two Presidential Candidates, President Obama and former Governor Romney are about how they plan to reduce the Size of future Deficits and eventually reach (one hopes) a Balanced Budget, if...if this and if that and if something else, but, without raising Taxes.  Go figure.

So, when Mr. Clinton claims that the Economy is not ,,hunky dory'' but on the Mend,

http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/10/19/14567670-clinton-lauds-obama-says-economy-not-hunky-dory-but-on-the-mend?lite

it is reasonable to question his Authority at coming up with such Statements.  Actually, with the Congressional Impasse over Cuts and Taxes and with ,,Automatic Sequestrations'' being a Problem which, no matter which way it is resolved or remains unresolved, the adverse Consequences on the Economy, the Problems which will be faced by the President after he takes the Oath of Office on 20 January 2013, no Matter if it is the current President or the Republican Challenger, will be daunting, very, very daunting, indeed.  And that, while at the same Time having to deal with Mr. Bernanke's untested Theories about ,,Quantitative Easing,'' ,,Operation Twist'' and who knows what else that Mr. Bernanke might come up with.

Sometimes, we can overcomplicate Things in spite of ourselves.  The basic Truth is that just like the Republican Party is not the Party of Ronald Reagan, it is the Party of Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt; equally, the Democratic Party, it would be good to remember, is not the Party of Bill Clinton; it is the Party of Thomas Jefferson and Franklin Delano Roosevelt.  President Clinton said, when he first ran for President, ,,It's the Economy, Stupid!'' and he was right.  One could have also said at the same Time and certainly can say it now:  ,,Keep it simple, (Stupid!)''  ,,Do not solve a Problem by creating another Problem.''

 

The Vice Presidential Debate

The one and only Vice Presidential Debate took place on Thursday.  It was at a Level which far superceded the preceding Affair which took place Four Years ago between Vice President (then Senator) Joe Biden and then Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin.  The latter, one could say, was merely a Caricature of a Vice Presidential Candidate, a Choice which Senator John McCain came to regret deeply but, of course, too late for himself.

Vice President Joseph R. Biden

Both Vice President Joe Biden and Congressman Paul Ryan had one Job to do and they both knew it; enhance the Position of their respective Presidential Running Mate and inflict as much Damage on the Opposition as possible, especially in View of the unexpected outcome of the First Presidential Debate only a Week ago.

Congressman Paul D. Ryan

Each of the two Opponents put into sharp Focus the Positions of their respective Ticket although, sadly, the National Audience for the Debate was modest; not too many seemed to care, apparently, what each had to say.  At the same Time, however, this Observer believes, they both revealed, either unwittingly or because they did not know how else to avoid, the Weaknesses in their Views.

Vice President Biden argued eloquently and flawlessly for the Responsibilities of the Federal Government when it comes to Social Security and Medicare among other Things but he was not able to offer a Plan which would show how the Federal Government can sustain over the long Term, or even the short or moderate Term, these Expenditures.  Although the Vice President argued, passionately, for an end to the ,,Tax Cut'' for People making $250.000,00 or more, the Truth of the Matter is, even if that Plan were to materialize despite the fanatical and, some would say, illogical Opposition by the Republican Members of Congress, that, alone, would not come even close to beginning to deal with the horrendous Federal Deficit which threatens to cripple not only Social Security and Medicare, but much, much more.

Congressman Ryan, on the other Hand, made the Argument, with equal Eloquence, for the Management and Control of Social Security and Medicare (but not Defense) Costs.  Certainly, Management and Control of these Costs (whether in the Form proposed by Congressman Ryan, who has been advocating much of what he said long before he became a Vice Presidential Candidate) or another, are necessary.  But, assuming for a Moment, that everything that Congressman Ryan is proposing were to be implemented, that, too, would not come even close to dealing with the - just as horrendous - Federal Deficit.

So, where does that leave us?  Lost in the Equation was the Observation and Warning by IMF Director Christine Lagarde, who warned of dire Consequences if these severe financial Problems are not addressed and, soon.

Mme. Christine (Madeleine Odette) Lagarde, Director of the IMF

One interesting ,,Tidbit'' that came out during the dueling was about Embassy Security Details.  Vice President Biden pointed out, correctly, that Congressman Ryan had voted against increasing the Security Detail Budget for Embassies and Consulates abroad by $300 Million.  One might well wonder just how much Money is being spent on Embassy Security Details in the First Place, if the Increase that was being sought, alone, was $ 300 Million.  One might equally wonder why the U. S. Embassy in Baghdad has nearly 16,000 Individuals working there (Largest U. S. Embassy abroad, according to the last Fact Check).  You could ask, which is the Second largest U. S. Embassy abroad.  Here is the Answer:  Beijing, China and, although just recently opened, it is too small and the Construction of an Addition is under Way.
 

A Letter to the Democratic Party Regional Director

Portions of the Letter and several Names have been edited.

...

Now there are many People who are far smarter than I am and I have no Idea how Things have been worked out or are going to be worked out on this Budget Thing.  All I know, as they used to say, is what I read in the Papers.  And what I read is that there is going to be a super bloody Fight over the next Sixth Months about these Cuts, and then something about a Constitutional Amendment and on and on and on.

We, when I say we, President Obama and all of us who voted for him inherited Two Wars from President Bush and they were both funded outside of the Budget by Mr. Cheney and, I suppose, Mr. Bush must have signed off on it.  But these Expenditures are being continued and they are huge and I do not sense any Urgency about the Money being spent, or as one might put it, wasted, on this.  I doubt that The Department of Defense can afford to get three competitive Bids every time they have to airfreight Drinking Water to Afghanistan.  Yet, that Money is coming out of somewhere and somebody is getting rich, very rich out of it.  That is just an Example.  And that is a Lot of Money.

Someone just acquiesced when Mr. Bernanke spent, I am not sure how much, they say, $ 6 or 7 Hundred Billion; that sounds like a Lot of Money to me, on ‘Quantitative Easing’ and for the World of me, I never heard that Phrase when I went to College nor ever since.  I just wonder whether President Wilson is rolling in his Grave when he hears Mr. Bernanke talk like that, wondering what has become of his beloved Princeton University.

Equally, a Lot of People are concerned about the Things that Mr. Geithner is doing in Office, including the Fact that he is spending more Time, the Way one hears it, talking to Wall Street People and Bank People each Day, than talking with Government People and, just intuitively, that doesn’t sound right either.

I am sorry that President Obama appears, some say, manœvered by People like this, after all, these People are not Tea Party Republicans, they work for the President and we all pushed for an Agenda when working to elect the President and overcame nearly astronomical Odds in order to prevail.

Moreover, it is disingenuous for both Mr. and Mrs. Clinton to trumpet that they have balanced the Budget when they took all of the Entitlement Funds, that includes Medicare and Social Security and dumped them in the General Fund.  Even my Cat, had I had one, would have known how to balance the Budget that Way.

One should perhaps lament not having President Bush, not George W. Bush, that other President Bush, to come out and say a few Words today, as he did to President Reagan, when he called this Type of Behaviour that President Reagan wanted to institute and instituted ‘Voodoo Economics.’  But President Reagan succesfully managed to kick the Can forward and now we all have to deal with it.

To this, one should reflect, perhaps, that the Republican Party was the Party of Abraham Lincoln, a Man who towers as a Beacon in the Annals of History throughout the World as someone who stood for Justice and Equality and paid with his Life for it, yes, Abraham Lincoln and not Ronald Reagan, as some of our Republican Friends would have us believe today and that the Democratic Party, the oldest Political Party in America and one of the oldest Political Parties in the World is the Party of Thomas Jefferson, who found his Inspiration in the Jewish Philosopher Baruch Spinoza and his Writings about Ethics, yes, Thomas Jefferson and not Bill Clinton.