Joe Political

Handling of H1N1 Vaccinations Foreshadows Government Health Care

While Speaker Pelosi—she who would be queen—basks in the glow of her momentary victory on the road to ramming health care down our collective throats; I would like to point out that even on relatively small efforts, like coordinating a vaccination program, the government can not be relied upon to manage things properly.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius assured the public in September that we were on target for having the vaccinations readily available before the peak of flu season. Well, flu season is upon us and whether you were going to get the H1N1 vaccine (and risk walking backwards for the rest of your life) or not, doesn't change the fact that the government was unreliable in making sure that those who wanted it were able to get it.  They grossly underestimated yields, with the result being scarcity and long lines.

I hope for your sake, those of you who support government run health care, are the types who also enjoy spending all day at the DMV getting a driver license, because this is just a taste of what's coming if Obamacare passes.

 

 

 

  
 
 

 

 


 

  
 

This Week's StickVision Was Inspired By...

A story in the New York Times Europe section about the total privacy encroachment that Britons have to deal with as subjects of the ultimate nanny state.  That in itself isn't newsworthy—it is common knowledge that there are more cameras per square mile in the UK these days than people who were actually born in that country.  The shocking thing about this story is that it brings home the fact that those poor folks cannot even escape the watchful eyes while in their local communities.  

Common events like changing your address can result in being tailed by some goons and it's all perfectly legal.  Under a law enacted in 2000 to regulate surveillance powers, it is legal for localities to follow residents secretly and there is no recourse open to them except to complain and shake their fist at the sky.

Only Pixie Dust Can Save Us

I find it entirely fitting that the U.N. has chosen the character Tinker Bell to be the "Ambassador of Green." After all, what better spokesperson could be found for a fairy tale such as global warming?

New Names for Public Option

Nancy Pelosi was spreading misinformation right down the road from me today.  At a roundtable meeting in Sunrise, FL, she stated  "There's got to be a better name for this.  When people think of the public option, public is being misrepresented, that this is being paid for with their public dollars."   She and Debbie "Wassername" Schultz (D FL-20) then referred to the public option as both  a "consumer option" and  a "competitive option."

OK, I am a Political Science guy and not a master of economics by any means, but I do know enough to understand a few common sense facts:

1. Changing the name does not fix the problem - I think we can all agree that we see through this simple tactic after so many years of the left championing its most hideous aspect—Political Correctness. 
2. No Public Dollars - The government is not a business.  Government does not generate profit, they generate unsustainable debt.  They have no money other than what you and I send to them, so everything they do is funded by public money.   
3. Competitive - Please. If by competitive, Ms. Wassername means that the government run option would be competitive with private insurance plans, then she is either misinformed or prevaricating.  The government does not have to worry about profit.  Private industry does.  This creates a tilted playing field and the best that private industry can hope for is that the program will be just as mismanaged as all of the other ones (see US Post Office) so that they have at least a chance of competing.  If a public option is created, it will drive private companies out of the market who can not compete against an entity that can print its own money.

Relabel it whatever you wish Madam Speaker, it's on the radar now and the pig is just as ugly with lipstick.

Clunkers Piling Up

Under the Cash for Clunkers program, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration required that vehicles traded in under the program be scrapped within 180 days.  The Automotive Recyclers Association had the following to say on their web site:

"With the program now three times the size and delays from  automobile dealers holding onto trade-in vehicles far longer than originally expected, cash for clunker vehicles have flowed  like a tsunami wave to automotive recycling facilities in recent weeks.  It is clearly appropriate for NHTSA to extend the crushing time frame to a 365-day  period. With so many vehicles going through automotive recycling facilities in such a short period now, there is a high probability that without regulatory relief many valuable parts will be lost to the low-income consumers throughout the country."

What's the rush anyhow?  The whole program was a gimme wrapped up in global warming mania in the first place.  At least change the requirement to allow time for the salvaging of parts and proper processing.

Boo!

Sex Talk Gets You 60

A female journalist has been sentenced to 60 lashes because a Lebanese television channel she worked for aired the sex confession of a Saudi man. Those Saudis sure know how to party like it's 1399!  Just think, if they get their way, we might all get to experience the joy that is Sharia law someday.

Bank Closings Hit 100

Regulators have shut down Partners Bank here in Florida for a total of 100 bank closings this year.  That's the most since the zenith of the savings and loan crisis in 1992.

Via: AP

"I Like That in You"

How do you "free thinking" Democrats deal with the patronizing tone?  This isn't just a slap at Republicans who march in lock step (which has a grain of truth to it), it's also pretty insulting for you to be patted on the head and told "I like that in you but..."

Vaporize Them!

Some in Senate Majority Leader Reid's staff are now predicting that he will "vaporize opponents in 2010."  With all due respect Mr. Just Out of College Advisor Guy, the only thing looking to get vaporized in 2010 is  your boss—Harry "30ish Approval " Reid.

EDIT: 9:54 PM - Yes, I know it's a Phaser :) 

Via: Politico