"Triple OT"

I like the photo, and yeah, Ty and I were there... triple OT Bull 128-127 playoff win over the Celtics. Boxscore.
Awesome!

1. US = Best Health Care
One of the underpinnings of the health care reform debate is that our system is a shambles and in CRISIS. You've probably seen or heard "studies" about how low our system is ranked compared to France and Canada and blah blah blah. Never did sound right, did it?

Huzzah. It ain't. Here's a chart for you:
[Health-system performance ranking, unadjusted for spending]
Source: Ill-Conceived Ranking Makes for Unhealthy Debate

The author of the (excellent) article makes two great points:
  1. You take spending out of the equation and huzzah, the US health care system ranks among the highest in the world.
  2. The ranking is largely "ridiculous"... filled with made-up numbers and other variables that are cultural or due to other factors. Infant mortality is an example of this. Is our infant mortality rate higher because of faulty health care or because of poor conditions and education in inner cities.
Then 2+2... cost is the key. And how do you reduce the cost of health care? You sure as shit don't throw more people into Medicare/Medicaid! Competition. Personal responsibility. Tax incentives. Subsidies for the poor who struggle to afford health insurance. Transparency in billing. On and on and on.

2. 2010 Elections
I figger. Lots of us hoping for 1994 redux in 2010. Me included.
The hope is for a rebuke of the President Obama leftie policies, just like ole Bill Clinton got in 1994 when he lost the Congress.
Old Newty was in charge of the deal in 1994 with his Contract with America.
Here's a quick Q&A with Newt: source.

Two important points here:
  1. The repubs need a platform. Hey guys, how about presenting REAL choices on health care, global warming, jobs, etc. If I can do it here are williamt, then why can't the flippin' repubs?!? Does this require a Newt-like leader to pop up on the radar? Dunno.
  2. It's not too late. I forgot how late and quick-striking the "Contract" was, as evidenced in my QOTD.
QOTD
"We didn’t do the Contract with America until late September of the election year [1994]."
- Newt, source
Sure would be nice to get a whiff of competence from the repubs before Sep 2010 though. He he.
I think if President Obama overreaches on global warming (coming up in December) just as he has on health care, then Congress 2010 is there for the taking.
peace... yow, bill

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