Author Archives: prayersforrain
Keynesian Economics: Is It What We Need?
As an economics simpleton, I’m merely attempting to wrap my head around the concepts of macro economics. With the absolutely crippling effects of the S&P downgrade and the stock market plummet, I thought now would be a good time to look at what should be done and to pose the question, is more debt the way out of the hole? Did Keynes have it right and has the fiscal policy of the U.S. been absolutely absurd since the mid 70’s? Let me know because I don’t the right answer. Read the Rest of the Article
Hostage Situation
Is it time to panic yet? Probably. Krugman says we need to spend more; everyone on the right says we need to cut all spending. Who knows? But there is something that we can all agree on. If we don’t raise the debt ceiling, it’s going to collapse right onto our heads. And with this in mind, why aren’t we? This answer is simple. Politics. Read the Rest of the Article
Irony, Middle East Style
In a recent Pew survey of Middle Eastern counties that are considered moderately to very pro-U.S. (Egypt, Saudi Arabia, etc.), they found that even with Obama’s “reset” strategy, current U.S. approval ratings are now at an even lower level than they were during the final year of the Bush administration. Given the rise of the Arab Spring and the people who brought it about, it isn’t surprising. The Obama administration has made it easier to name the counties we aren’t bombing than the ones we are. Read the Rest of the Article
Dangerous Shift
Mr. Moore says it better than I can. Read the Rest of the Article
Cultural Difference
As more and more pictures and stories arise from the tragedy in Japan, a few things become apparent. Firstly that the wake of destruction is beyond belief. Secondly, the Japanese as a people have delt with this in a manner that is foreign to almost anywhere else in the world, including Asia. Complete and utter peace, complete cooperation, complete unity. What is that gives them quality? Is this lack of outward sorrow healthy? How would other parts of the world react given the same circumstances? Read the Rest of the Article
American Wars
With the onset of a third American middle eastern military engagement, by what virtue are we going to war? As world poilce, to protect our interests, to stemmy an impending attack? And what makes any of these reasons ligitamate in a global society? Are we honor bound by the UN to act as their attack hound or are we still in control? Read the Rest of the Article
The Health Care Catch 22
With health care reform coming back into the limelight soon because of the vote to repeal and the state lawsuits on the horizon, now seemed like a good time to break down the true nature of said reform and to ask a few questions about healthcare in general.
First lets look to our neighbors in the north and perhaps make some comparisons to ourselvs. Many people on both sides of the aisle have either demonized or given creedence to the Canadian system. While both have valid points and problems, it is a fact that their system is working now, but there is a substancial push for there to be more private industry involved. And there is a reason for it. In Ontario, average wait times for general surgery is 99 days, for breast cancer surgery 33 days, for angioplasty 18 days and for a knee replacement 181 days. In America, the wait is nill. But that being said, Canadians do not pay for seein their FP doctors nor their hospital stays. And their ER waits are compararable to ours. The rub is that you cannot change doctors once you have one.
So in America, we have a quite different situation. Canada has almost no immigration that they do not control, ie have tax procedures for. The US does. And they contribute in a large portion to those who are uninsured or on medicaid.
Perhaps the solution is lowering the amount of care given to patients on the government plan. Not the standard of practice, simply the scope. Life saving treatments and (within reason and proven method) prevenitive services. Leave the rest to industry. Read the Rest of the Article