Rather, it's the two words the Democrats crafting so-called health care reform won't mention, and if they're uttered around them, will instantly dismiss as fanatical right-wing hallucinations--rationing (R) and denial (D) of medical service or medicines.
Just this week, Obama vowed to cut $300 billion over ten years from the Medicare budget by streamlining administrative procedures and rooting out waste and corruption.
Two more words, "Yeah, right."
The only way he'll save a penny, other than cutting payments further, is to do what every other respectable left-wing government does with its health care--ration it (long lines and waiting periods) and deny it ("you're too old for a hip replacement, so live with it").
I hate to disillusion all you "free health care" daydreamers out there, but this is change we can live without. Let's hope no one really believes in all the ridiculous promises being made.
(N.B.: Even the liberal New Republic has come out and demanded that the "reformers" level with the public about what's going on. Read "The Public Remains in the Dark.")
Friday, June 5, 2009
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
UAW Suspends Subsidized Viagra, Controls GM
So much for the great concessions made by all sides in the negotiations for Government Motors' Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
In labor's hip pocket, Obama first refused to let Chrysler and GM merge to combine operations and save huge costs because--you guessed it--the United Automobile Workers (UAW)--wouldn't agree since it would mean loss of jobs and, and mostly, loss of those lovely union dues.
Then, while publicly saying that all sides would make sacrifices to ensure GM's survival, Obama and his team let the UAW completely off the hook while screwing every single investor of his money (bondholders get worthless stock in exchange).
What did the UAW cede? Nothing really. The union agreed to "suspend" (har de har har) overtime pay for less than 40 hours worked, subsidized Viagra, and the JOBS bank that paid employees full wages not to work (good deal if you can get it, eh?). At the same time, the UAW retained veto power over GM's foreign operations, meaning the company can't do more work in Mexico without the UAW imprimatur.
Hourly rates and all benefits for current UAW workers remain locked in, though it may be necessary to screw retirees if the union can't sell its 17.5-percent stake in Government Motors to fund health care in the future.
Now, given that great sacrifice, how long do you think GM will survive?
Answer: As long as Obama and the Democrats are in power. Congress and the White House are now captive nations of labor--especially the UAW--and will write checks forever (at taxpayer expense) to keep GM afloat.
What about selling the government's 60 percent stake on the open market?
Answer: Fat chance. At its peak, GM was never valued at more than $52 billion, roughly the cost of Uncle Obama's current 60 percent share, so a half-size Government Motors would have to rise to $80 billion in valuation before the government could sell out.
More har de har har....
In labor's hip pocket, Obama first refused to let Chrysler and GM merge to combine operations and save huge costs because--you guessed it--the United Automobile Workers (UAW)--wouldn't agree since it would mean loss of jobs and, and mostly, loss of those lovely union dues.
Then, while publicly saying that all sides would make sacrifices to ensure GM's survival, Obama and his team let the UAW completely off the hook while screwing every single investor of his money (bondholders get worthless stock in exchange).
What did the UAW cede? Nothing really. The union agreed to "suspend" (har de har har) overtime pay for less than 40 hours worked, subsidized Viagra, and the JOBS bank that paid employees full wages not to work (good deal if you can get it, eh?). At the same time, the UAW retained veto power over GM's foreign operations, meaning the company can't do more work in Mexico without the UAW imprimatur.
Hourly rates and all benefits for current UAW workers remain locked in, though it may be necessary to screw retirees if the union can't sell its 17.5-percent stake in Government Motors to fund health care in the future.
Now, given that great sacrifice, how long do you think GM will survive?
Answer: As long as Obama and the Democrats are in power. Congress and the White House are now captive nations of labor--especially the UAW--and will write checks forever (at taxpayer expense) to keep GM afloat.
What about selling the government's 60 percent stake on the open market?
Answer: Fat chance. At its peak, GM was never valued at more than $52 billion, roughly the cost of Uncle Obama's current 60 percent share, so a half-size Government Motors would have to rise to $80 billion in valuation before the government could sell out.
More har de har har....
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