INSURANCE
Perhaps, the supply and demand model fails here
First of all, Blue Cross of Idaho is a tremendous asset to our community. It employs thousands, and is a great corporate citizen.
In a Jan. 17 article in the Statesman outlining the renewal of the Associated General Contractors’ health care policy (13 percent increase), I note the following:
In the 2010 policy year the actual health care cost was 76.7 percent and the rate was increased nearly 3 percent. Does that suggest the administrative and profit needs (yes, even nonprofits need to make a profit) are 26 percent?
The article also states that this year Blue Cross expects to spend $217 per member monthly for health care cost and $32 (15 percent) for administration — this is without a profit.
I believe most everyone would agree our health care cost is the most serious issue we have in this country. Our costs are nearly twice as much as any other developed country and still 50 million go without.
Can we ever expect to solve this problem with 20 to 25 percent administrative cost when Medicare operates with about 2 percent?
Capitalism is what made this country and the rule of supply and demand for the most part works well — but maybe, just maybe, it doesn’t work in health care.
MICHAEL WILSON, Boise
SOCIALISM
A proven failure
Christian-Socialism. This is an oxymoron; they are two distinct philosophies. As Winston Churchill said, “Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance and gospel of envy.” President Reagan said it more simply: “It’s like giving yourself a leaky-blood transfusion from the right arm to the left.”
How many times do the elites have to keep trying the same thing over and over ... always failing ... before they see, like Einstein confirmed, it’s insanity!
The same radicals from the ’60s and ’70s are leading the student (sucker) “Occupy” crowds into rebellion today for a socialist dictatorship.
The socialists have already destroyed the economies of most of the free world.
BILL MANAHAN, Meridian
WELFARE
The 47 percent needsto pay for services too
Forty-seven percent of tax filers pay no income taxes but instead get an average $3,300 in refundable credits from the IRS. These credits aren’t paid for by the government, they’re paid for by the other 53 percent of tax filers.
This is the end result of programs started by the Johnson administration. Instead of handing out welfare doles, they started a negative income tax program that would make welfare more “morally acceptable.”
Today there are 69 separate federal programs that provide food, housing assistance, social services, educational assistance, vocational training, medical assistance, energy and utility assistance, child care and child development and cash to America’s “poor.”
Combining those programs $700 billion in federal tax dollars and another $250 billion in state tax dollars are handed out to non-taxpayers in what is now the fastest growing component of government spending. These handouts, which do not include Social Security or Medicare, are larger than what we spend for national defense and larger than what we’re paying for our entire public school system.
The time has come to stop this socialized redistribution of income. It’s time to redefine what it means to be “poor” in America and to have every person take responsibility for supporting this country and not just 53 percent of us.
JERRY BERGGREN, Boise
RON PAUL
The candidate the newsmedia loves to ignore
Increasingly, people are acknowledging that it’s not Iran getting a nuke that is our biggest threat, it is our financial situation we should be worrying about.
From a CIA top terror expert Michael Scheuer: “Dr. Paul’s non-interventionist policy will allow foreigners to work out their political destiny in their own way and at their own pace; prevent unnecessary additions to America’s growing list of enemies; and save countless young lives.”
In his endorsement, Scheuer blasted senior leaders and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle with harsh words. “Electing anyone but Ron Paul will further increase the already strong chances of widespread Islamist-conducted violence inside the United States.”
Sen. Jim DeMint, a very powerful senator from South Carolina: “If we don’t listen to Ron Paul ... the Fed is going to destroy our monetary system.”
Now there is state Sen. Tom Davis, a Paul endorser, and very influential politician who represents the tea party sentiments in South Carolina. He held a news conference to announce all the other South Carolina representatives who are throwing their support to Ron Paul. Wonder how much of this you saw on Fox that night?
Smart money is on just about none of it.
LISA BREUER, Horseshoe Bend
MORMON CHURCH
PR campaign leaves questions unanswered
In regard to the public relations campaign being waged by the Mormon church on behalf of presidential candidate Mitt Romney, I have some questions. Everyone is jumping up and down and pointing to the obvious: Mormons no longer preach that polygamy is good for the congregation. Mormons cite this as how normal, mainstream and Christian the church truly is.
My questions are these:
Would you include in your PR dialogue a definition of your words and terms? Who is God? How do you define him and his existence? Who is Jesus? What kind of eternal life awaits those of your Mormon faith who tithe 10 percent on a regular basis?
Do you believe that God and his celestial wife inhabit some planet in outer space? That they gave life to Christ and Satan? That men of the Mormon church can become gods and get their own planets to rule?
Have you removed the deity of God, his son, and the Holy Spirit to define them as male humans?
Define your terminology. It will, in my opinion, provide a whole new meaning to what you are saying through your PR people.
JEAN LYNN, Nampa
CURRENT EVENTS
Our world gets crazier
The older I get, the crazier the world appears to be getting... Here are some examples:
1. A very large majority of Americans disapprove of the job Congress is doing. Yet, instead of getting rid of politicians who have served much too long and have become beholden to special interests, we keep re-electing them.
2. In 1932 the world’s population was 2 billion people. Now, only 80 years later, it has more than tripled to 7 billion. Most scientists and thinking people agree global warming is caused by this explosion of the human population. Yet, in America singles and couples who chose not to have any children are penalized by having to pay higher taxes, while families with many children get subsidized with tax breaks.
3. American taxpayers recently spent billions to bail out General Motors and Chrysler. Yet, while the world is running out of oil and global warming is a reality, GM, Chrysler (and Ford) are still producing gas-guzzling “dinosaur” trucks instead of super-energy efficient cars. And we buy them!
4. Americans want jobs. Yet, they buy the consumer products produced by Chinese workers — who get paid a lot less than what Americans want to earn.
ROBERT BOESTER, Boise
