One Slash Four

The other day, my wife and I went to the Home Depot for some items around the house. One item we needed was a nut for a bolt for our daughter's scooter. It was easy enough to find in the store and it only cost six cents.

We proceeded to a cashier to purchase all of our items and I handed the lady the nut. She asked, "What size is this?" and my wife politely answered, "It is a quarter-inch nut." Our jaws dropped when the polite cashier responded with "Is that one slash three or one slash four?"

The real whining class

Former Senator George Nethercutt wrote a wonderful article on the Politico website. Some points that I really agree with are:

• Citizens are particularly unhappy that these measures sometimes reach 1,000 pages and are admittedly unread by their elected representatives.
• When I successfully ran for Congress against then-House Speaker Tom Foley (D-Wash.) in 1994, I remember making the point that neither congressional representatives nor presidents feel the pinch of recessions — their government paychecks keep coming no matter how bad their performance — so it is hard for them to grasp the full impact on a small-business owner or someone dependent on the free-market system to feed a family or keep doors open when times are bad.
• The best advice to those serving in office today? Quit whining. It is your job to know about the measures you pass into law and expect the rest of us to live by.

While I agree that all our elected officials (both in the majority and minority) should stop whining about citizens protesting, I found a larger group of whiners...the people who respond to any argument by name-calling.  Here is a very small sample of quotes from bomb-throwers that don't try to win the argument with logic.

• The people showing up at town meetings yelling are old, white and racist just like the party they represent.
• Come on, Politico. We're smarter than we look. If there's a "whining" class, its the GOP and their racist base. 
• Please no more pelosi's. Hell even ehr Daughter is a sicofant wacko, and politico gives the wacko a voice.
• The "Chosen One" Barry, Queen Bee Pelosi and Dingy Harry Reid...
• You sir are the idiot....Let's see if I can make it easy even for a tool/fool like you. 
  
• under Emperor Obama...
• They're mad because the illegal-alien usurping commie-fascist Obama...
• Town hall protesters are "evil-mongers"

I get very frustrated with people like these who really divert attention away from the real debates.  If these people want to push their ideas, they should find a new way to communicate.

Who Writes the Laws?

With several reports stating that members of Congress haven't read legislation on which they are voting (or here, here and here), does anyone know who is writing the legislation?

Firearms and Abortion

Even though abortion nor privacy are ever mentioned in the Constitution, why do some people so liberally view the Constitution that they can see:

• the right to abortion
• an infringement of rights for requiring a waiting period
• abortion acceptable for all ages
• late-term abortions are acceptable

But at the same time, strictly view the Constitution's second amendment and believe:

• people should not own firearms
• waiting periods are required
• only adults can purchase firearms or ammunition
• all owners of firearms should register every firearm
• a waiting period between purchases is necessary
• only the government can possess firearms (even though the National Guard wasn't formed until 1903).
  

Health Care Questions to Congress

If companies find out that it would be cheaper for them to pay the 8% penalty and drop coverage, the insurance companies would lose business. In turn, they would have to either raise rates for other people or layoff employees. Either outcome will start the cycle over and more people will be on the government plan. I would like to know what provisions are being made to ensure that insurance companies will remain a viable competitor to the government health plan. Are there any insurance companies too big to fail?

Will all Congressmen and Congresswomen be on this health plan? Will the First Lady? Will the Obama children be on this plan?

The Cash for Clunkers was considered widely successful...spending a billion dollars withing two weeks instead of the 4-5 months planned. If the government could be so wrong about how much this small plan cost, why should I believe that your estimates about the cost of the health care plan will be accurate?

If a wealthy person wanted to start a new health insurance company, would they be able to do so?

What is the most a person should be in taxes a year, even the wealthy? 40%? 50%? 80%? Would you make that statement publicly? Would you be willing to make that public policy?

Is there an exit strategy in case this doesn't work?

If people are complaining about the high prices and availability of insurance and the government believes it needs to step in and give everyone insurance, what other industries will the government take an active roll? If auto prices are too high, will the government soon offer everyone a new car? If tobacco and alcohol cause too many social problems, will the government take over these industries? If groceries become too expensive, will the government start a new grocery chain to force more competition? Why is it just health care?

Are there any incentives to be healthy in the government plan? Incentives to quit smoking? Incentives to lose weight? Incentives to have an annual physical? Are there incentives to use your primary physician instead of just using the emergency room?

Will you read the legislation?