Author: jack

Medicare Premium Fairness Act of 2015

Posted on October 18, 2015October 18, 2015 by jack

I have been writing here about the unfairness of the Medicare part B premium increase for 2016.

H.R. 3696: Medicare Premium Fairness Act of 2015 has been introduced in the House but is still in committee as of today and S. 2148: Protecting Medicare Beneficiaries Act of 2015 has been introduced in the Senate but is still in committee as of today. Continue reading “Medicare Premium Fairness Act of 2015”

Clinton emails

Posted on October 16, 2015October 19, 2015 by jack

Anyone who has been near a TV or radio or read a newspaper or magazine lately has probably heard quite a bit about Hillary Clinton’s email problems due to a decision to use a personal email server rather than the official one. The Clinton emails controversy prompted the best line of the Democratic debate when Bernie Sanders said:

“The American people are tired of hearing about your damn emails”

But the fact is that the FBI is investigating the Clinton email situation to see if national security was endangered and criminal charges should result. Continue reading “Clinton emails”

Medicare premiums spike for some

Posted on October 13, 2015 by jack

I have written twice about this unfair increase in Medicare premiums for some of us (Fix unfair Medicare increase and Medicare heartburn- the uneven increase).

Now AARP has written about this too. Some Medicare Premiums Could Spike explains this in much more detail than I did and also brings up a point that I never considered.

But here is how it starts: Continue reading “Medicare premiums spike for some”

Fix unfair medicare increase

Posted on October 11, 2015October 13, 2015 by jack

I wrote about the unfair medicare increase toward the end of last month. I didn’t think much would come of it.

But 2 bills to correct this injustice have been introduced in Congress. These bills would keep Part B premiums at their current rate for all Medicare beneficiaries in 2016.

Of course congress is kind of busy these days with the debt ceiling rapidly approaching and the need to fund the government for the year that began 10 days ago. But that is just because they chose not to do these things in a timely manner. But they don’t seem to be in too much of a rush to act on either.

So maybe they will find the time to fix this unfair medicare mess.

VW lied and people died

Posted on October 10, 2015October 10, 2015 by jack

The story of how VW lied about diesel emissions has been much in the news lately so rather than rehash that story I will begin with my personal connection. For a review of the many aspects of this corporate malfeasance, the Wikipedia article on the Volkswagen emissions scandal seems good.

Last year I was thinking about buying a new car. So I spend some time visiting a number of car dealers. One of the cars that impressed me most was the Volkswagen (VW). I test drove the Jetta diesel sports wagon. I was impressed with it but then I didn’t need all that space so maybe a Golf with one of those clean diesel engines might be good.

The salesman was a diesel enthusiast. Continue reading “VW lied and people died”

Knucklehead for President

Posted on October 7, 2015October 7, 2015 by jack

The words grabbed my attention. I can just see someone shouting “Knucklehead for President”. The “stuff happens” part also appealed to me but it was the knucklehead business that really got my attention.

The article was “Stuff Happens to the Environment, Like Climate Change” by Thomas L. Friedman (@tomfriedman) and here is how it begins: Continue reading “Knucklehead for President”

Crimson Shore by Preston & Child

Posted on October 4, 2015July 2, 2019 by jack

First my thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to download an advanced reader copy of “Crimson Shore” by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. I have enjoyed some of Agent Pendergast books previously.

Most of the ones I’ve read have been very good. I see this is number 15 in the series and as I only have read a few earlier ones, I was eager to get re-acquainted. Continue reading “Crimson Shore by Preston & Child”

The Quartet: Orchestrating the Second American Revolution

Posted on October 2, 2015October 10, 2015 by jack

I had read two previous books by Joseph J. Ellis about the founding of the United States several years ago . I had liked these books and when I saw he had written a new book with emphasis on the transformation into a nation or the Second American Revolution, I was eager to read it.

The Quartet: Orchestrating the Second American Revolution , 1783-1789 actually begins in 1781 when the final state ratifies the Articles of Confederation. This loose confederation of the states had many problems due to the supremacy of states and lack of power in the weakly united confederation that pretended to be the United States.

For example, under the Articles the confederation called the United States had no way to force the states to honor the terms of the peace treaty which ended the American Revolution. They could ask the states but some chose to ignore the request. There was no way to raise money to pay our national debt. The United States was deeply in debt from the war but could only ask the states to give it money. The requests were frequently ignored. Continue reading “The Quartet: Orchestrating the Second American Revolution”

Congress is still forgetting “Never Forget”

Posted on September 30, 2015September 30, 2015 by jack

I’ve written several times this month about Congress forgetting that we owe a huge debt to the responders to the terrorists attacks of September 11, 2001. Some people responded as part of the job; others were volunteers who just showed up to help.

Politicians like to say they will never forget but a bit of help to go with those sentiments would be nice. The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act is one way to giving that bit of help.

I imagine congress is pretty busy today thinking about the national budget. But it seems they like last minute deals. While stalling on this, they could take up the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act.

I’m sure they will just kick the can down the road on the budget and just pass some sort of continuing resolution. But parts of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act expire at midnight tonight.

How about doing something positive today?

History of the American Public Library

Posted on September 29, 2015September 29, 2015 by jack

This is an enjoyable book. I had requested an Advance Reading Copy (ARC) of Part of Our Lives: A People’s History of the American Public Library by Wayne A. Wiegand because I like libraries. I got the ARC from NetGalley and thank them for the chance to read this book on my Kindle before publication.

I claim neither special knowledge of nor interest in librarianship, just an interest as a library user and occasional supporter. I think I may be part of the target audience since the subtitle suggests this is a “people’s history” rather than one aimed primarily at professionals. Continue reading “History of the American Public Library”

Defunding Planned Parenthood

Posted on September 28, 2015March 9, 2017 by jack

Is defunding Planned Parenthood unconstitutional?

Defunding Planned Parenthood is much in the news lately. Congressman want to do it. Candidates in the Republican primary for President want to do it. But is it constitutional?

David S. Cohen, professor of law at Drexel University, says it is unconstitutional. And this article makes sense to me. You might want to read it and think about it.

Why?

Continue reading “Defunding Planned Parenthood”

Medicare heartburn- the uneven increase

Posted on September 26, 2015 by jack

I’ve been following this issue and this is the clearest explanation I’ve seen so far: Surprise! Your Medicare Part B premiums may increase by 50 percent in 2016. This article explains the financial medicare heartburn induced in a portion of the population: Continue reading “Medicare heartburn- the uneven increase”

Congress forgot to “Never Forget”

Posted on September 24, 2015September 24, 2015 by jack

A bit over 14 years ago on September 11, 2001 several coordinated terrorist attacks were launched on America. Americans vowed to never forget the sacrifices of those who died or were injured as a result of those attacks. Every year on 9/11 politicians make a big show that they will “Never Forget”.

Thousands of volunteers helped in the rescue and recovery. Thousands helped clean up the devastation. We will “Never Forget”.

But our Representatives and Senators in Congress seem to have forgotten. They are glad to say “never forget” in their speeches. But they seemed to forget to “Never Forget” in their actions. Continue reading “Congress forgot to “Never Forget””

Senator Toomey, take a stand

Posted on September 19, 2015December 7, 2015 by jack

Yesterday I wrote about the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act and how there are many co-sponsors but the House and Senate Bills have been stuck in committee for several months with no apparent action.

This week’s newsletter from Senator Toomey starts with a short summary of his visit to the Delaware County 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony in which they “honored the brave men and women who responded to the scene in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania”. However, he did not tell us how he stands on the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act . I would think this is more important that mere words. Continue reading “Senator Toomey, take a stand”

Author: jack

Medicare Premium Fairness Act of 2015

Like this:

Clinton emails

Like this:

Medicare premiums spike for some

Like this:

Fix unfair medicare increase

Like this:

VW lied and people died

Like this:

Knucklehead for President

Like this:

Crimson Shore by Preston & Child

Like this:

The Quartet: Orchestrating the Second American Revolution

Like this:

Congress is still forgetting “Never Forget”

Like this:

History of the American Public Library

Like this:

Defunding Planned Parenthood

Is defunding Planned Parenthood unconstitutional?

Why?

Like this:

Medicare heartburn- the uneven increase

Like this:

Congress forgot to “Never Forget”

Like this:

Senator Toomey, take a stand

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Is defunding Planned Parenthood unconstitutional?

Why?

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this: