Well its been an interesting month, as I started to write this months blog entry I was recreating the theme every other day.
First there was the latest CBO report on the revised numbers that are frightening and as usual here it is from the CBO Directors own words.
http://cboblog.cbo.gov/
http://cboblog.cbo.gov/?m=201007
The Outlook for Major Health Care Programs and Social Security Growth in spending on health care programs remains the central fiscal challenge facing the nation. CBO projects that if current laws do not change, federal spending on major mandatory health care programs will grow from roughly 5 percent of GDP today to about 10 percent in 2035 and will continue to increase thereafter. (Mandatory programs are those that do not require annual appropriations; the major mandatory health care programs include Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the subsidies that will be provided through the insurance exchanges that will be established as a result of the new health care legislation.)
That estimate includes all of the effects of the recently enacted health care legislation. Although, CBO expects the legislation to reduce federal budget deficits over the first 10 years and in subsequent decades (through its effects on both revenues and spending), it is expected to increase federal spending in the next 10 years and for most of the following decade; by 2030, however, that legislation will slightly reduce federal spending for health care if all of its provisions are fully implemented, CBO projects. (The estimates for the health care legislation that are used in this report are unchanged from the ones that CBO and the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation published in March, when the legislation was being considered.)
Under current law, spending on Social Security is also projected to rise over time as a share of GDP, albeit much less dramatically—from 5 percent to 6 percent of GDP. (Later this week, CBO will release a report on a number of different policy options for changing Social Security.)
All told, CBO projects, the aging of the population and the rising cost of health care will cause spending on the major mandatory health care programs and Social Security to grow from roughly 10 percent of GDP today to about 16 percent of GDP 25 years from now if current laws are not changed. (By comparison, spending on all of the federal government’s programs and activities, excluding interest payments on debt, has averaged 18.5 percent of GDP over the past 40 years.)
Budget Outcomes Under Two Long-Term Scenarios:
In the report, CBO presents the long-term budget picture under two scenarios that embody different assumptions about future policies governing federal revenues and spending. Budget projections grow increasingly uncertain as they extend farther into the future, so this report focuses largely on the next 25 years.
One scenario, the extended-baseline scenario, adheres closely to current law. That set of policies would result in steadily higher average tax rates because they incorporate the assumptions that most of the tax cuts enacted in 2001 and 2003 expire and that the alternative minimum tax applies to more and more people each year—and because the combination of economic growth and the structure of the tax system generates additional tax revenues as a percentage of income. Those rising rates, combined with the tax provisions of the recent health care legislation, would push total revenues to 23 percent of GDP by 2035—much higher than has typically been seen in recent decades—and to larger percentages thereafter. At the same time, government spending on everything other than the major mandatory health care programs, Social Security, and interest on federal debt—activities such as national defense and a wide variety of domestic programs—would decline to the lowest percentage of GDP since before World War II. Despite those substantial revenue increases and constrained spending for a portion of the budget, the rising costs of health care programs and Social Security would lead to continued budget deficits, and federal debt held by the public would grow from an estimated 62 percent of GDP this year to about 80 percent by 2035.
The budget outlook is much bleaker under the alternative fiscal scenario, which incorporates several changes to current law that are widely expected to occur or that would modify some provisions of law that might be difficult to sustain for a long period. In this scenario, CBO assumed that Medicare’s payment rates for physicians would gradually increase (which would not happen under current law) and that several policies enacted in the recent health care legislation that would restrain growth in health care spending would not continue in effect after 2020. In addition, under the alternative scenario, spending on activities other than the major mandatory health care programs, Social Security, and interest would fall below the average level of the past 40 years relative to GDP, though not as low as under the extended-baseline scenario.
More important, CBO assumed for this scenario that most of the provisions of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts would be extended, that the reach of the alternative minimum tax would be kept close to its historical extent, and that over the longer run, tax law would evolve further so that revenues would remain at about 19 percent of GDP, near their historical average.
Under that combination of policy assumptions, federal debt would grow much more rapidly than under the extended-baseline scenario. With significantly lower revenues and higher outlays, debt would reach 87 percent of GDP by 2020, CBO projects. After that, the growing imbalance between revenues and non interest spending, combined with spiraling interest payments, would swiftly push debt to unsustainable levels. Debt as a share of GDP would exceed its historical peak of 109 percent by 2025 and would reach 185 percent in 2035.
Neither of those scenarios represents a prediction by CBO of what policies will be in effect during the next several decades—but these projections, encompassing two very different sets of policy assumptions, provide a clear indication of the serious nature of the fiscal challenge facing the nation.
Either baseline has us at unsustainable debt levels over the 70% death mark as stated by over 400 renowned historical economists, once reached and held for approximately 2 years every great civilization has collapsed upon itself!
But then everyone even some of the main sewer media was giving the Obamacare budget revised numbers air time so change of tack.
The Medicare & Medicaids new Director Dr. Donald "death panel" Berwick:
First in typical fascist manner he was thrown at us by Shifty the wannabe Hitler of the 21st. Century.(speaking of which I might have to do my next blog on the 700+% increase in the fundamentalist Christians belief Shifty aka Obama is really the Anti Christ, pretty amazing stuff if that's your beliefs) during Congressional recess last week and a lot of great conservatives like the 40% majority of us that call ourselves Americans, beat me to it again:
For the liberals who have difficulty with the written word some videos of the new Medicare Czar espousing the socialist fascist dogma of your party!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2Kevz_9lsw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSauhroFTpk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04_BTztNFCI&feature=PlayList&p=29C1388662892179&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=28
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MC5tLl3pmc
This guys own words do a far better job of espousing his and this fascist regimes agenda far better than I could. Here is the reason for their choice of "Death Panel Don" as director; they need a hatchet man.
The highest expenditures in the average humans life for health care occurs within the last 5 years of that persons existence.
http://www.ncoa.org/enhancing-economic-security/
As a member of this and many other senior advocacy groups other than AARP I have found numerous articles and white papers showing the economic costs to a persons financial stability from catastrophic medical costs. I have been blogging it for years now. You can go back and read for yourself what the numbers say, but this is more than numbers, this is their one and only chance to create the modern "Fatherland" the "Herrenvolk" the master race if you will.
As hard as it seems to believe think all that is now coming to light about their socialist fascist agenda and how every new bill or regulation or Czar puts another small segment of our economy under their control.
If you think for a moment that this is the end and you have nothing more to worry about from Obamacare, then think again. They still have 784 more oversight committees to assemble and place their people in charge of!
And if you think for a moment that they are not going to move this into socialized state run health care think again. With the financial reforms required from the bill the insurance companies are sending agents and brokers like myself letters stating that the commission rates are being cut in half to accommodate the new 80% minimum loss ratio requirement.
Now I am sure a lot of you think "good he makes a lot of money it won't hurt that much".
First and foremost I get paid on a diminishing commission scale with the highest rate paid (approx. 15-20% of the premium) the first year and it decreases to half or less and goes away after 5-7 years.
First and foremost I get paid on a diminishing commission scale with the highest rate paid (approx. 15-20% of the premium) the first year and it decreases to half or less and goes away after 5-7 years.
I spend 58% of my income creating new sales, I spend 8-10 hours daily in contacting and engaging prospective clients, I spend 24% of my income for federally required programs and insurances. I make less than a federal employee with a 10th. grade education and I am required to re-certify with Medicare every year as well as the State Insurance Commissions and the SEC.(plus 48 hours of CE as well)
This is how they are forcing me and every other agent out of the business and handing the health insurance industry over to the government, it is a designed plan of action. (again pull up my archives to see this back in 03/2009 and in several more entries.)
Ask any senior who has had to deal with CMS (Center for Medicare&Medicaid Services) customer service system or better yet go to my website and see the endorsements page and see the letter from Mrs. K ( http://westbrookinsurance.net/ ) It took 8 months to get her reinstated into Medicare because they couldn't figure out which of her 2 late husbands accounts to credit her benefits too.(and the sad thing is she worked her whole life and should have been the primary anyway). These incompetent bureaucrats are now part of the most insidious and dangerous class in this country and they have grown and festered like a viral infection until it now is killing the body whole.
We now have a fascist monarchy with a ruling class, the political class of society. If you don't think we have it just look at all the video of how these "Elected Officials" act when confronted by the voters "Their Bosses", latest example Pete Stark of Ca.:
http://www.zerohedge.com/article/congressman-pete-stark-explains-leverage-tells-reporter-get-fuck-out
By the way Pete I have multiple post graduate degrees and understand completely what you and the traitorous scum you associate with are up to fiscally, come and get some PUNK!
We are at a crossroads that we have not seen in the 228 years since the Revolution ended and we gained our sovereignty, and that is what is at stake the sovereign rights of every individual to succeed or fail based on a FREE ECONOMIC SYSTEM BASED ON EQUALITY!
I am reading "The Road to Serfdom" by F.A. Hayek an economist from the late 19th. to mid 20th. century and he lived to see the birth of the economic planning socialist movement destroy many countries in his lifetime.
In the chapter Who, Whom he delves into Lenin's phrase "who,This is how they are forcing me and every other agent out of the business and handing the health insurance industry over to the government, it is a designed plan of action. (again pull up my archives to see this back in 03/2009 and in several more entries.)
Ask any senior who has had to deal with CMS (Center for Medicare&Medicaid Services) customer service system or better yet go to my website and see the endorsements page and see the letter from Mrs. K ( http://westbrookinsurance.net/ ) It took 8 months to get her reinstated into Medicare because they couldn't figure out which of her 2 late husbands accounts to credit her benefits too.(and the sad thing is she worked her whole life and should have been the primary anyway). These incompetent bureaucrats are now part of the most insidious and dangerous class in this country and they have grown and festered like a viral infection until it now is killing the body whole.
We now have a fascist monarchy with a ruling class, the political class of society. If you don't think we have it just look at all the video of how these "Elected Officials" act when confronted by the voters "Their Bosses", latest example Pete Stark of Ca.:
http://www.zerohedge.com/article/congressman-pete-stark-explains-leverage-tells-reporter-get-fuck-out
By the way Pete I have multiple post graduate degrees and understand completely what you and the traitorous scum you associate with are up to fiscally, come and get some PUNK!
We are at a crossroads that we have not seen in the 228 years since the Revolution ended and we gained our sovereignty, and that is what is at stake the sovereign rights of every individual to succeed or fail based on a FREE ECONOMIC SYSTEM BASED ON EQUALITY!
I am reading "The Road to Serfdom" by F.A. Hayek an economist from the late 19th. to mid 20th. century and he lived to see the birth of the economic planning socialist movement destroy many countries in his lifetime.
whom"? " Who plans whom, who directs and dominates whom, who assigns to other people their station in life, and who is to have his due allotted by others?"
We now can answer that question here in the former Republic of the United States, our new political class: Our elected officials!
What have we allowed our country to become?
And to be ruled by men such as these men now!
We used to have these:
"No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope that it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen, if, entertaining as I do opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve. This is no time for ceremony.
The question before the House is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty towards the majesty of heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.
Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren, till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation?
For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth -- to know the worst and to provide for it. I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided; and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years, to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves and the House?
Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with these warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation?
Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation -- the last arguments to which kings resort. I ask gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible motives for it? Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies?
No, sir, she has none. They are meant for us; they can be meant for no other. They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been so long forging. And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer on the subject? Nothing.
We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves longer.
Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament.
Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne. In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope.
If we wish to be free -- if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending -- if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained, we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of Hosts is all that is left us!
They tell us, sir, that we are weak -- unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance, by lying supinely on our backs, and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot?
Sir, we are not weak, if we make a proper use of the means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. Three millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us.
The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable -- and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come!
It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, "Peace! Peace!" -- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle?
What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God!
I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!"
Patrick Henry - March 23, 1775
In Freedom;
Dr. Keith C. Westbrook Ph.D.
We used to have these:
"No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope that it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen, if, entertaining as I do opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve. This is no time for ceremony.
The question before the House is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty towards the majesty of heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.
Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren, till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation?
For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth -- to know the worst and to provide for it. I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided; and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years, to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves and the House?
Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with these warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation?
Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation -- the last arguments to which kings resort. I ask gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible motives for it? Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies?
No, sir, she has none. They are meant for us; they can be meant for no other. They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been so long forging. And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer on the subject? Nothing.
We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves longer.
Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament.
Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne. In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope.
If we wish to be free -- if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending -- if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained, we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of Hosts is all that is left us!
They tell us, sir, that we are weak -- unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance, by lying supinely on our backs, and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot?
Sir, we are not weak, if we make a proper use of the means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. Three millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us.
The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable -- and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come!
It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, "Peace! Peace!" -- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle?
What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God!
I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!"
Patrick Henry - March 23, 1775
In Freedom;
Dr. Keith C. Westbrook Ph.D.
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