30 November 2013
The website to implement the new tax system devised by Barrack O'bama is, according to the White House, going to be “working smoothly for the vast majority of users by the end of November.” After the predicted abysmal roll-out in October 2013 which found taxpayers unable to access the reduced choice for medical intervention payment plans O'bama dismissed the problems. He cited that worldwide private corporation Apple was performing no better at serving consumers who voluntarily chose to access its website. O'bama asked Americans to, "Consider that just a couple of weeks ago, Apple rolled out a new mobile operating system, and within days, they found a glitch, so they fixed it." The difference here being that Apple responded in a consumer friendly manner.
I have previously written about A Healthy perspective on Health Care and O'bama providing to consumers the medical intervention limitations and cost increases they have demanded. I won't rehash that now but instead will just celebrate the implementation of O'bama's plan.
It may seem counter to my classic liberal ideology to celebrate such a reduction in choice and increase in costs but as a whole I feel that this is a wonderful outcome for the American people. As had been planned through the careful and precise wording of the legislation embraced by both factions of the Incumbent Party -- republicans and democrats – Americans recently began receiving notices of cancellation of their existing medical care payment plans. This was necessary to achieve the desired result of reduced choice – or liberty – of Americans.
As I said two weeks ago, “Medical services are divided into three categories: trauma care, sick care and health maintenance. In the field of debate over this issue most people have been guided into the fallacious belief that there exist three options for health care: buy health care insurance, pay cash, or go without needed treatment.” I then went on to explain that there is a fourth option – a healthy lifestyle – which is the health plan I use. I believe it is the best plan. Low cost, improved productivity, greater choice and a more fulfilling life. I have not once complained about O'bama altering my healthcare options.
O'bama has, through force of law, NOT taken over healthcare as has been claimed by so many. Rather he has encouraged choice in healthcare. A new paradigm of choice. Americans are being pushed into choosing between “healthcare” and medical intervention services for sale. Still, I do acknowledge that O'bama's plan is contrary to the teachings of nearly every major religion and the foundation of our constitutional republic. That is, we are not individually endowed to steal from our neighbors for our personal gain. I have no authority over your personal decisions about health care nor do you over me. Since we are a country founded upon a government of the people the government, just as each of us individually, has no right to steal – tax – from you your wealth for the benefit of ourselves. But alas we see that it is being done with the consent of the American people who elected the Republicans and Democrats that are ready and willing to deprive them of their right to choose – liberty. The ends it seems do justify the means.
The ultimate ends from this O'bama plan will be a healthier society. This is why I encourage you to embrace O'bama's plan to reduce medical intervention options and availability. It will lead to healthier outcomes. I have experienced it. I have lived it. I have seen the results.
I was in a federal prison for about a year which offered similar medical intervention care. Everyday the doors to the housing units were opened and inmates could head to the hospital to get in line for an appointment that day. Those with infirm bodies could pay someone else to secure a place in line. Once the schedule of appointments was filled for the day the door was closed and those remaining had to try again the next day. Or did they? There was another option which we collectively realized – health care.
I have never seen a population as concerned with health care as prison inmates. Regular exercise was a chosen routine by nearly everyone. Healthful food selections were also common although there were still those who chose to eat processed garbage made to appear as food. Even such mundane practices as brushing teeth, washing hands, maintaining clean environments were practiced with a near religious zeal. Mediation, self-education, philosophy discussions, spiritual practices and other routines that lead to healthful outcomes were common among inmates either individually or in groups. Overall, being in prison increases life expectancy. Clearly we had an expectancy that if we wanted to be healthy it was upon us to ensure that, as our choice was either take what intervention treatment we could get on a first-come, first-served basis or prevent ailments. But this is that to which I consented.
You may hardly think that a person consents to the conditions in prison but when compared to O'bama there is no distinction. I participated in the judicial process and was eventually duped by an incompetent attorney into accepting a plea agreement. The other option was to flee the jurisdiction. Thus, I consented. Similarly, O'bama was elected by a process originating with votes by the populace. Those who voted for O'bama have consented to be bound by his edicts. Those who voted for an alternate candidate participated in the process knowing the varying potential outcomes and, thus, consented. Those who didn't vote or express an opinion, by default, consented. Thus, everyone consented to this deprivation of choice.
This consent to simplicity should be welcomed and vigorously embraced. Health care options under O'bama are being reduced to two polar options – wellness or sustained sickness. I choose wellness. Now I am off to a 50+ mile round trip bike ride.
If you would like assistance in advancing your well-being or that of your children then please visit my website and contact my scheduler to make an appointment to meet with me. There is no charge for initial attorney consultations.
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©2008, 2013 Stuart Showalter, LLC. Permission is granted to all non-commercial entities to reproduce this article in it's entirety with credit given.
Saturday, November 30, 2013
O'bama-Tax Medical Intervention Cost Inflation and Consumer Choice Reduction Act [a.k.a. Affordable Care Act] website to be functioning today
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Parents and Grandparents of Today's Youth are Stabbing Them in the Back
06 November 2013
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There comes a time in life when a piece of evidence comes before you and when infused with the prior accumulated evidence tips the scales so far that you shed the misconception that had held dominion over your thoughts on the subject. Today I speak of the older generations that continue to drive forth the message that the youth of our society are the cause of societal ills, are unruly dangerous criminals, and are ungrateful miscreants who feel entitled to a life they don't deserve. But I contend that is all a farce perpetuated by a charade which their parents and grandparents perform.
It is my contention that these older generations demonize, degrade and demoralize today's youth as part of an insidious plan. Today I will present some evidence supporting that holding. I am also seeking reflection from those youth to affirm or negate my holding.
Any discussion on the cause of the decline of western civilization must include crime. Ask anyone who grew up in the 50's, 60's or 70's about some of the antics they performed and the manner in which discipline was meted out. You are likely to hear about blowing things up, fighting, vandalizing property, drag racing, cutting class, and a plethora of other activities now considered illicit. Often these were handled in an informal, non punitive manner which is in stark contrast to the current oppressive sanctions dispensed for seemingly minor infractions.
Youth are no more disruptive or delinquent now than they were 50 years ago. The difference now is that the youth who performed all those delinquent acts back then and walked away with a scolding are now seeking prison terms for their offspring who do the same. This is part of what is known as the school to prison pipeline.
Juvenile Delinquency
Take for instance the case of Lindsay Brown, a National Merit Scholar at Estero High School in Fort Meyers, Florida. She was charged with felony weapons possession on school property after a school resource officer had seen a butter knife on the floorboard of her car parked in the school parking lot. A week earlier she had been using her car to move her belongings including kitchen utensils which had spilled from a box. The school principal, Fred Bode, insisted that Lindsay posed a threat to the school and suspended her for five days and denied her the opportunity to participate in graduation ceremonies. The case was also referred for prosecution. State Attorney Joe D'Allessandro eventually dropped the charge. It was not because he didn't want to see Lindsay sent to prison for the offense but, instead, he calculated that the odds were against him in being able to convince a jury to convict her. There was an errant butter knife left on the floor of her car , not on her person, not used to threaten anyone, and the school principal wanted her to be convicted of a felony over it.
Mental Health
Ask any youth today which classmates are on a prescribed drugs for a mental health condition and you will likely get nearly a roster of the school attendees. I my youth it was a rarity. Anthropologically we know that the human specie cannot change so abruptly as for this to be natural. Cross-cultural studies reveal the same. In some cultures there in no pharmacological interdiction to control behaviour. Thus, it is the result of labeling by the older generations.
In studying the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition [DSM-5] it becomes readily apparent that the diagnosis of mental health issues is nearly exclusively subjective. Another alarming revelation is the apparent design of targeting behaviours that exist outside the range of the majority – the ends of the bell curve – as needing treatment regardless of effect. That is the mental health industry is attempting to create a homogenous society of behavioural automatons through the use of chemical controls. To be an individual is no longer permissive but it is the youth of today that are naturally shedding the strict obedience to customs, manners and mores to which the older generations adhered. Even the Baby-Boomer radicals that rebelled against some norms adhered to a code of conduct and dress that conformed with the rest of the group. The most ironic were the Anarchist who were readily identifiable by their matching garb. True individuality is alive and prospering today and the elders don't like it.
In the child custody litigation arena where I have practiced for about 10 years I have observed one overarching theme that finds many participants – some willing, some unwittingly – perpetuating it. That theme as I say is – Phuque-up a child for life and I'll show you a goldmine. There is much more money to be made from youths' delinquent acts, imprisonment, drugging, mental health counseling and litigating over their custody than having two parents providing appropriate nurturing and support that produces a well rounded and healthy child.
Delinquency and mental health are two situations where the older generations are unjustly trying to impose an heavy burden upon the youth of today. The behaviours that youth exhibit today are being further criminalized or targeted for remediation by the older generations although such behaviours are the normal outgrowth of their development and the environment in which they are reared -- the environment created by these older generations. There is another angle that the elders are taking to impose an undue burden upon the youth. That is through direct financial costs – imposing a high amount of debt upon them and perpetuating its' growth. Those are not necessarily motivated by a direct desire to profit from or place a higher burden upon the youth. It comes through the subconscious motivators, primarily security and control.
Medical Care
This is the insidious plan portion where the older generations are fully aware of their desire to and method of placing an oppressive financial burden upon the youth. You have likely heard a figure that represents each American's share of the national debt. However each person's share is not static but is regressive proportion to age. That is, for the youngest it is actually much higher because the older members of our society will die before paying their share, if any. Likely they will add to it on their way out.
According to an insurance underwriter I spoke to O'Bama mandated to insurers that youth are to pay nearly double the actual cost of their sick care insurance and that this should be used to subsidize the cost to persons over age 60 by 50%. In other words the insurers were told whatever it cost for you to insure the population over age 60 you may only charge half of that. The other half that you need to cover the cost shall be charged to people under the age of 30. So the insurance industry determines a cost to cover each of the child, parent and grandparent. O'Bama has mandated that the parent pays cost plus the company's profit, the grandparent pays half their cost and the child gets to pay his cost plus the amount that was discounted to the grandparent.
Ironically, it was youth who favoured O'Bama over Gary Johnson and the Republican candidate in the presidential race. But neither O'Bama nor the persons who devised this plan and his presidential campaign are the youth of today. Recall that Howdy Doody long ago said never trust anyone over age 30. A sentiment that I strongly endorse, even at my 45th year.
In the study of motivation – academically or intrinsically – it is realized that most actions are the result of a subconscious motivation. These motivations are not always directly related to the action. For example an intimate partner may accuse the other of infidelity though no such evidence exist. The trigger may be a marriage proposal. The motivation may be to avoid becoming locked into a violently abusive relationship as was witnessed among married people by the accusing partner when he or she was a child.
You may also notice that when anyone excels, whether it be the high school beauty queen or the dedicated entrepreneur, the others in the group target them for shame as though success is wrong. This is a normal reaction though, as a colony, tribe or society attempts to ensure that all members regress to the mean. That is to be homogenous, not too far ahead, not too far behind. The other members feel security in knowing then that they don't have to excel to be successful as measured comparatively.
In my day it was common to deride the benevolent student, the “goodie-goodie” or “teacher's pet” who was always helpful to everyone. In contrast we were mean ass bastards. But if we were able to shut down this exemplary display of goodness, to which we were compared, then the rest of us dawdlers and miscreants could only be compared to each other and then we stood much higher among the terraces of goodness. So, considering all the ills and burdens placed upon today's youth the older generations, in an attempt to make themselves feel good, must demonize, degrade and demoralize today's youth.
The character Tony Montana in the 1983 Martin Bregman production of Scarface articulated this concept, that can be applied to the inter-generational conflict, quite succinctly:
“You need people like me. You need people like me so you can point your f@ck!n' fingers and say, "That's the bad guy." So... what that make you? Good? You're not good. You just know how to hide, how to lie. Me, I don't have that problem. Me, I always tell the truth. Even when I lie. So say good night to the bad guy! Come on. The last time you gonna see a bad guy like this again, let me tell you. Come on. Make way for the bad guy. There's a bad guy comin' through! Better get outta his way!'
In a future posting I will show you how the older generations have bled the social security system dry for their benefit, are saddling the youth with an insurmountable level of debt that will lead to austerity, keeping them unemployed, and are still demanding to be cared for by the youth under threat of loss of liberty. You will then truly understand why adults try to shift blame to the youth and impose guilt upon them with queries like “I fed you, put a roof over your head, took care of you when you were sick and this is the thanks I get?”
In the meantime I would like to hear from the youth about their perception of the stresses and impositions being placed upon them and suggestions for what can be done policy wise to help. Please contact me by email with those thoughts and I will include them in my reports to state policy makers. All information received will be treated as confidential.
Parents who would like to achieve the best outcome for their children in a contested child custody case should visit my website and contact my scheduler to make an appointment to meet with me. Attorneys may request a free consultation to learn how I can maximize their advocacy for their clients.
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Tuesday, November 5, 2013
The Health Care System that we all want
05 November 2013
As debate rages over the O'Bama Tax sick care program [aka Affordable Health Care Act] any objective assessment must declare that the implementation has been an abysmal failure. Whether it becomes effective, gets repealed or is amended in some form it will not be what the American public wants. The reason for this is that the current medical services industry is exactly as the American public wants. I make this declaration knowing the results of public opinion polls and hearing the years of ongoing complaints from consumers and pundits broadcast over the various political programs.
The medical services industry as it exists in the United States is priced primarily as a function of a free market system save the interdiction by the government to raise the prices. Interestingly the government that artificially raised prices now seems set upon portraying itself as the price reduction saviour. The pricing system is a result of supply and demand. As anyone who has paid attention to the landscape in their community for the past 30 years or so it is obvious that the medical service industry is expanding at a rate which exceeds that of our population or the business sector in general. Hospitals now generally sit among what has become a campus of medical practitioners and long term care facilities. So how did this rapid expansion of the medical care industry and the associated costs acceleration occur?
During World War II there was a shortage of domestic labour as most young men were enlisted into the military and Americans staying at home were increasingly employed in the war machine industries. As an incentive to employees the businesses started offering health care insurance coverage. When the employees share of the insurance cost was given favourable tax treatment it became a way for employers to pay their employees in a tax-free manner. Going from a cash pay system to an employer based pay system increased the use of health care services. This is the result of mainly two factors: that when people don't have to pay for a service immediately they are likely to spend more. This is the reason that retailers offer lay-away or installment plans. This also accounts for the success of credit cards as a means to increase personal debt and spending. The second is the psychological mandate to use that for which we have paid. This is based upon the anthropological efficiency of action inherent to man. That is our early hominids functioned on a needs basis and their efforts expended were to facilitate those needs. Thus, as this inherent motivation carries itself into the modern world we are incline to want to use that for which we have paid. If we have paid for sick care coverage and don't use it then we are not fulfilling our biological mandate – something the subconscious cannot allow. To not use our investment – the payment for sick care coverage – is to admit that we are wasting our efforts, that we are a waste of time. This has resulted in greater levels of ailment among the insured. Studies continually reveal that uninsured people have fewer ailments than those who are insured.
There is another underlying cause that leads to rising costs. A high cost to employers is employee turnover. This is why there are pay increases attached to duration with an employer rather than performance. Employers have found a way to skirt the turnover problem without increasing costs. This has been done by making insurance coverage a part of the pay structure. As employees become dependent upon their coverage they are less likely to switch jobs. But, this can increase the stress on an employee who finds the employment unsatisfying. The increase in stress related ailments leads to greater dependence on the employer thus the employee becomes locked into a vicious circle. The problem is compounded in that the medical care industry, especially acute care providers, rarely display their prices nor do consumers ask. If you were a retailer who had customers come in, select products and then hand a card to you that identifies who will pay for the goods what do you think you would do to your prices?
The greatest increase in medical care cost does not come from these underlying manipulators but instead are from the more direct demand. Even as cost rose consumers continued to make greater demands upon the limited supply – the quintessential formula for accelerated price increases. It is now well established that 90+% of cancers are chosen, and obesity along with it's related ailments are nearly exclusively chosen. Also primarily chosen are diabetes, stress related ailments, high blood pressure and a wide swath of psychological conditions.
Trauma care is the portion of medical service that could be said to be entirely discretionary. Although it would be unreasonable to eliminate all possible sources of trauma there is still much that can be done to mitigate it. Recklessness in all it's forms is unnecessary yet still chosen. Very few vehicle collisions are the result of weather, roadway design, or mechanical failure. Most are the result of decisions to not avoid collisions.
The wonderful thing about free markets is that if you don't like the price you may opt out. Markets are a reflection of choice. When given financial liberty we have a market that reflects exactly what we want. We 'elect' the goods and services available to us through our 'votes' cast with money. It is in this way that we have more healthful foods available because by purchasing those I have voted for more. Likewise medical costs are lower because I decided to not use those services after my 1991 surgery. I elected to have that because I was in prison and the U S Government paid for it with taxpayer funds thus I didn't care what the price was. Rather than complain or demand interventions I enjoy the freedom to choose among the basket of services in the marketplace. I don't want to pay what I feel are exorbitant medical service prices so I instead choose among many of the other options.
So now that the pricing structure of the medical services industry and a market economy is understood it is easy to see that the prices are what the customers have demanded. The beauty of a free market based system is that everyone is satisfied with it because it represents their most fundamental wishes. Unfortunately we have a government that wants to make people unhappy by disrupting the price structure that they have very carefully crafted over generations.
If you would like to learn how to maintain better control of your life and increase your well-being then please visit my website and contact my scheduler to make an appointment to meet with me. There is no charge for initial attorney consultations.
If you would like to follow my activities more closely then send a friend request to my Political FaceBook page.
Subscribe to this blawg.
More information about my child custody and well-being policy efforts may be found on my LinkedIn page.
©2008, 2013 Stuart Showalter, LLC. Permission is granted to all non-commercial entities to reproduce this article in it's entirety with credit given.
