Medicare for All

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And now, perhaps, the BEST argument for a single-payer system--Medicare for All--or, at least, a public option.

The situation begins, finally, to highlight why it is essential that health care be completely and forever severed from employment. Until that happens, the banker-owned companies, and the CEOs that run them, will continue to whine and moan and screw employees in the name of keeping their "shareholders" happy.

You see, the oligarchs are grumbling, frothing at the mouth, shaking their fists and stomping their tiny, little, Louis Vuitton-clad feet over ObamaCare.

Surely, you have already heard about the miserable jerk (Robert Murray, CEO of Murray Energy--you know, the ass hat who ordered his miners to take the day off, without pay, to show up at a campaign rally for Mitt Romney) who recently prayed over his employees before letting approximately 150 of them GO. But, wait, it's about to get better.

Papa John's Pizza CEO John Schnatter, who has declared he will cut employees' hours to bring them below the full-time threshold which would require him to provide full coverage for those employees. Evidently that 14 cents per pizza is just too heavy for Wall Street to bear.

Schnatter also said he has a legal duty to shareholders to provide the maximum rate of return. Might be worth knowing who the shareholders are? Seems 74 percent of Papa John's stock is institutionally owned; that is, owned by investment firms and other Wall Street funds.

Darden Restaurants: i.e., Red Lobster, Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52, The Capital Grille, Eddie V's and Yard House

Yes, Darden Restaurants which is a public corporation, but largely owned by bankers and hedge funds to the tune of about 84 percent.

Darden's solution to the problem is, also, to cut employees' hours so that those hours are under the minimum required to provide health insurance because Darden's just will not tolerate the idea of actually doing something that might cost a little bit in order for employees to live better,  happier, healthier lives.

Zane Tankel, CEO of a large New York Applebee's Franchisee

Zane Tankel, the CEO of a very large Applebee's franchisee in New York (only in New York), explains how he will jack the rules in order to avoid providing health insurance to his employees.

This one is particularly nasty, because other Applebee's franchisees--in other areas--do offer health insurance to their employees.

"Bad Actors"?

Each and every one of these greedy CEO's is NOT trying to figure out HOW to get health insurance for their employees. NO, they are trying to figure out ways to avoid paying the penalty for NOT providing health insurance. Because they have no intention of providing health insurance to their employees despite the fact that in every case they could, in fact, adopt a nationwide group insurance plan which would be less costly after tax deductions than paying the penalty. You see, it is a temper fit--you know, like a two year old would throw?

Next?

It is time these corporations and banker-owned franchise chains learned they must play by the rules. If they don't like the employer penalty, perhaps the government could slap a transaction tax on share trades to help pay for the health care benefits they don't give a damn whether their employees get or not! And with Elizabeth Warren on the Senate Banking Committee, we just might get it.

Medicare for All

Medicare for All

(Different links to different sites)

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And This Is Why Food Safety Matters

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• WASHINGTON, June 23 (UPI) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning people not to eat California Prime Produce- or Orange County Orchards-brand pistachios.
• FDA officials said Orca Distribution West Inc. of Anaheim, Calif., received and repackaged pistachios recalled [emphasis mine] by Setton Pistachios of Terra Bella Inc.
  
• Setton had recalled all of its pistachios because of possible salmonella contamination that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections.
• The products were distributed to retail locations in airports and hotels nationwide in clear 6-ounce flexible plastic Ziploc bags, with "Sell By Dates" of "7/30/09" and "8/30/09."
• The FDA said more than 660 products have been affected by the Setton Pistachio recall.
• A FDA list of all recalled pistachio products is available at http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/pistachiorecall/index.cfm.

Did you get that? They repackaged nuts that had been recalled due to salmonella contamination! And then sent them out for sale! GREED!

How can they get away with just simply ignoring the FDA?

Come on, people, put some teeth in those recalls! My God.
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Greed Is Good -- ?

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I may be doing less blogging, but luckily for you others are still at it.

Robert Creamer at Institute for America's Future gives us in interesting look at the "greed is good" philosophy in his blog, "AIG Bonuses and Wall Street's 'Greed is Good' Values".

• In fact, of course, "greed" was never "good". The ethical and religious teachings that have evolved over thousands of years of human development don't hold up "greed" as a value. The minister, priest, imam or rabbi doesn't get up on the Sabbath and encourage his congregates to go be "greedy".
• Commitment to others — commitment to our country — selflessness — that's what is good. Most everyday Americans understand that to their core. They get chills when they hear about the soldier who sacrifices his life for his buddies. They are inspired by the doctor who devotes himself to heal people who can't afford health care.
• They know instinctively that hard work — and sacrificing for your kid's future — and teaching the next generation — and inventing cures for diseases because they will help other people — and creating something that is beautiful, or improves the lives of your fellow human beings — those are the things that are "good" and should be valued by our society.
• They know that the highest calling of human beings is not to go make as much money as you possibly can, but rather to live a life of service to other people.

Do unto others ....
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Debt Crisis vs Credit Crisis

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Blogger James Boyce has a few questions that need to be answered before an economic stimulus package is passed.

• What are the underlying long term economic trends that set the stage for the current crisis?
• What were the short term economic events that triggered the crisis?
• What are the short term programs that can cushion the impact of the crisis?
• What are the longer term programs and plans that can prevent the crisis from happening again?

Because, like the wise old philosopher said -- first you have to understand what the problem truly is, not just the symptoms the problem is exhibiting.

I agree with Boyce, it is not a credit crisis. So, no matter how much money is simply thrown at the banks, it will not solve the problem. We have already seen that -- the banks just give bigger bonuses to the creeps that helped cause this thing in the first place.

Boyce feels this is a debt crisis. In that, I believe, he has nailed it.

• Too much house debt -- using your home to finance your "lifestyle" is an idiot move.
  
• Too much credit card debt -- if you can't pay it off in 3 months, don't charge it (you probably have too much "stuff" already); better yet, pay it off every month.
  
• Too much car loan debt -- you really don't need a new car every other year.

See my post from 17 January 2009. I have already sounded off about excess before. So, I will try not to get off on a rant here again.

What needs to be done? This would really jump start the economy, but I have decided the amount probably should be more, maybe $3000-4000 on each debit card.

Then, unemployment benefits should be vastly expanded and it should go back and pick up the people who have just given up looking for work. Even Wal-Mart announced lay-offs this week. There are simply too few jobs out there. And the jobs there are do not exist where there are people looking for work.

Food stamps have got to expand benefits. Children are going hungry. And that is unacceptable.

After that, some of those magnificent construction & improvement projects should be up and running.

A Silver Lining?

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If it can be possible to find a silver lining in this Depression, it is perhaps the exposure of the corruption and hubris of so many at the top of the economic food chain in a way that is undeniable and forces us, all, to face our own problem with the undeniable greed that has led to so much inequality. I don't care what the movie said, "Greed is NOT good."

After you get enough to cover your needs, what good is more? If you eat, have shelter, stay warm or cool, clothe yourself, can do all of the same for your children, have a little set back for emergencies or old age, enjoy a little "fun" (however you define that), what will you do with the rest? How many cars can you drive at once? (I am guilty here--I hold title to a car, an SUV, a pickup and a motorcycle; in my defense, they were all bought used and paid for in cash.) How many rooms do you need to comfortably live in? I don't know the answers, but I think we need to consider them.

I do know, that if you have a lot, then what you will do is spend vast amounts of energy, & probably money, trying to figure out ways to keep anyone else from getting any of your excess: off-shore accounts, tax shelters, gated & guarded communities, gated drives to homes, private schools for your children, too many homes, too many cars (I already confessed), too many clothes and shoes, and on and on and on.

The planet is being sorely over-taxed. And we, in this country consume way too much and waste even more. Check out your carbon footprint. Make changes where you can. Develop a little more compassion, give more to help those less fortunate than you. Remember, those you meet on the way up, you will probably meet again on the way down; treat them as you would wish to be treated.

If you want a planet for your children and grandchildren to live on, then all of us must re-examine our consumption practices.

CHINESE PROVERB ABOUT MONEY

WITH MONEY YOU CAN BUY A HOUSE, BUT NOT A HOME.

WITH MONEY YOU CAN BUY A CLOCK, BUT NOT TIME.

WITH MONEY YOU CAN BUY A BED, BUT NOT SLEEP.

WITH MONEY YOU CAN BUY A BOOK, BUT NOT KNOWLEDGE.

WITH MONEY YOU CAN BUY A DOCTOR's TIME, BUT NOT GOOD HEALTH.

WITH MONEY YOU CAN BUY A POSITION, BUT NOT RESPECT.

WITH MONEY YOU CAN BUY BLOOD, BUT NOT LIFE.

WITH MONEY YOU CAN BUY SEX, BUT NOT LOVE.

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