Affordable Care Act

 Affordable Care Act:

The purpose of the Affordable Care act is to reform the healthcare industry.  It was signed into law on March 23, 2010 and upheld by the Supreme Court on June 28, 2012.  It has survived attempts to repeal it.  It survives as the law of the land.  It does not replace private insurance, Medicare or Medicaid.   According to the administration the Affordable Care Act expands the affordability, quality, and availability of private and public health insurance through consumer protections, regulations, subsidies, taxes, insurance exchanges, and other reforms. 

The failure of the launch of the government website healthcare.gov is so unfortunate.   It was the first step in implementing  the Affordable care act.   Its purpose is to help people get signed up for healthcare via healthcare marketplaces.   This strategy works in California.  In fact there area 14 states that have sites.   I don't understand why the federal government was unable to get a working sight up and running.  Some are saying that it was known before the launch of the website that it had problems.  Testimony in Congress put the cost of  developing and implementing the website at over $600 million.  The sight does not work!  That's outrageous!  Where was government oversight when the site was developed?

Here's something else that is outrageous.  The President promised the public that if thy have an insurance plan they like, they will be able to keep it.  Five million people recently received cancellation notices from their insurers because their plans did not meet the new minimum  requirements.  There was an uproar!  How can the government have missed that potential.   Well, needless to say, the government is working overtime on the website and  also to allow those with below minimum requirements  policies to keep them for at least a year.  In the end I don't know anyone in my circle who is happy with "Obamacare".   It is causing the cost of insurance to increase and healthcare providers say it will be a nightmare.  In the meantime the government tells us that the website will be fixed and everything will be just fine.  I'm not so sure.  Stay tuned.

Government in Default

Government in Default:

Here we are on October 1st at the beginning of a new fiscal year for the government.  Neither the Republicans nor the Democrats have blinked in the negotiations to fund the government by raising the debt limit.   It is a Congressional duty to pass spending bills that fund the government.  They have not done this in time and so the government is shutting down.  A shutdown has happened before, the last time about seventeen years ago.   According to the Congressional Research Service the last two shut downs cost the country $1.4 billion.  This time it is estimated that it may cost $1 billion a week.

 

The architect of the current shutdown is said to be North Carolina Representative Mark Meadows.  Meadows is  a freshman representative from western North Carolina who considers all the complaints from his constituents about Obamacare as his mandate to hold the government hostage over an increase in the debt ceiling.   Actually, raising the debt ceiling is to borrow money to pay for things that have already been approved by Congress. 

 

Here are some effects of the shutdown:  National parks, zoos, and museums are closed.  Non-essential federal employees were sent home and put on furlough without pay, an estimated 800,00 of them.   Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is shut down.  No permits will be issued.   Government loans and mortgages are on hold. 

 

Here's what is not affected:  Social Security, air traffic control and active military pay will  continue to be funded.  The Postal Service, which is funded separately, will continue to operate. 

 

America is the world's largest economy and a model of how democracy should work.  Elected lawmakers unwilling to negotiate and willing to let our nation go into default is not what America is about. 

 

In my opinion we have elected politicians when what we need are statesmen.  A CNN poll found that 51% of our people would blame the Republicans for the shutdown.  We need to let our elected officials  know that this type of irresponsible behavior is unacceptable.  Public outcry seems to be effective in motivating elected officials.  America is the land of the free and the home of the brave.   We need to do the right thing.

 

 

Debt Ceiling 2013

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Debt Ceiling 2013:

The so called "debt ceiling" is a statutory limit on how much the government can borrow to meet it's debt obligations.  President Obama has faced 3 years of down-to-the-wire standoffs that have nearly ended in default or shutdowns a half dozen times.  The current debt limit is $16.7 trillion.   Economists warn that the failure to raise the debt ceiling by the Treasury's deadline of October 17 would cause the world economy's faith in the safety of U.S.Treasury debt to be shaken for years.  Interest rates could shoot up, and stock prices worldwide would likely plummet. 

 

Republican leaders  are trying to round up votes from a reluctant rank and file to agree to raise the debt limit by mid October to advert a default if the Democrats accept a list of Republican priorities.  While no negotiations are actually going on at this time, here is what Republicans are talking about.  They would rather suspend  the enforcement of the debt limit until December 2014 rather than raise it.  They want to delay Obamacare for a year.  Then there is tax reform, energy provisions, regulatory reforms, mandatory spending reforms, and lastly health spending reforms.  In other words the whole Republican agenda.  No one is taking it seriously.   Rep. Dana Rohrbacher of California states, "People have to recognize there's never any compromise until the stakes are high.  In our society, that's the nature of democratic government.

 

The debt ceiling law,  passed in 1917,  is an accountability mechanism from the days when Congress didn't much involve itself in federal budgeting.  Today Congress exerts full control over the federal budget.   The debt ceiling is not a tool for controlling spending or deficit.  It is even less a tool to promote other agendas.  The U.S. is just about the only country that has a debt ceiling.  Most experts agree that the statute has outlived its usefulness.   We would do well to eliminate the debt ceiling altogether.

 

 

 

Syrian Chemical Weapons Revisted

Syrian Chemicals Weapons Revisited.

On it goes with the Syrian chemical weapons crisis.  President Obama has spoken to the nation to try to gain support for a strategic strike to  degrade the Syrian capacity to carry out chemical attacks in the future.   He promises the strike would be solely for that purpose and would not involve any boots on the ground.  A majority of the Congress and the American people  do not support the strike.  A vote in the Congress would be required to authorize the action.  Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that military action against the Syrian government without U.N. Security Council approval "is unacceptable under the U.N. charter and would constitute an act of aggression."

After months of blocking U.N. action against Syria, Russia reversed itself by proposing that Syria's stockpile of chemical weapons be put under international control.  Syria has agreed to a Russian plan to give up its weapons.  Both the U.S. and Russia are committed to a negotiated solution.  Syrian President Bashar al-Assad demands that the U.S. call off any potential strike on Syrian government  forces before he will give up chemical weapons.  President Obama has asked Congress to delay voting on authorization of a military strike.  U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry states that the threat of  a U.S. military strike remains on the table if Syria does not hand over its stockpile.

Secretary Kerry and his Russian counterpart Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov  announced  that while negotiating a solution of the chemical weapons crisis they would like to restart talks on ending the Syrian Civil War.  Any agreements must be comprehensive, verifiable, credible, and able to be implemented in a timely fashion.   There ought to be consequences if it does not take place. 

So it would seem President Obama has backed off, at least for now.  Diplomacy has been given another chance.  Nations are coming together to negotiate a solution.  So, while there is still tension and a lot at stake, we have the potential to diffuse the situation and resume work on   ending the Syrian Civil War.   That would be the ideal ultimate outcome. 

Chemical Weapons in Syria

Chemical Weapons Attack in Syria:

On August 21st a massive chemical weapons attacked was conducted on rebel forces near Eastern Damascus.  The international group "Doctors Without Borders" said it tallied 355 people killed and more than 3,000 people displaying symptoms of a nerve gas.  The U.S. now puts the death toll at 1,429 people killed, many of whom were women and children.

Syria is currently engaged in a civil war.  The conflict has claimed more than 100,000 lives over the past two and a half years.  Also in this time 4.25 million people have been displaced within the country and 1.8 million have fled to neighboring countries according to U.N. figures.  Chemical weapons have been used before but on a smaller scale.  This most recent event was massive.  The Syrian regime has denied a role in the attacks, suggesting that anti-government rebels carried them out to frame Syrian President Assad.  U.N. Chief Ban Ki-moon pleaded for more time to allow a team  in Syria to establish the facts and give diplomacy another chance. 

The U.N. Security Council's five permanent members have met but failed to reach agreement to authorize military force against Syria per  Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter to protect civilians from chemical weapons.  Russia and China have blocked past attempts to sanction Assad's regime.  Russia found  proof that Assad used the weapons "unconvincing".

British P.M. David Cameron was behind the U.N. resolution for action,  but Members of Parliament voted against taking part in a military action.  The use of chemical weapons by Assad crosses President Obama's "red line" and so the administration believes the U. S. must prove its credibility on the international stage by responding.   With no U.N. resolution and Great Britain out of the picture the U.S. will have to go it alone if it decides to act.  President Obama assures that the purpose  of any military response would be "to hold the Assad regime accountable for their use of chemical weapons , (to) deter this kind of behavior, and to degrade their capacity to carry it out."

So, the question is does humanitarianism compel  us to defend the rebels and their supports?  Is that our place?  What will the consequences be for the U.S. and our allies, particularly Israel. What effect will it have on the area at large?  Is their a diplomatic solution? What do you think?

School Resource Officers

 School Resource Officers:

School Resource Officers (SRO's) have been in existence since 1953, when Flint, Michigan provided the first documented SRO to their community.   Today local police departments and sheriffs employ an estimated 20,000 full time School Resource Officers.   A School Resource Officer  is a sworn officer or deputy responsible for providing security and crime prevention service in the school environment.   Officers and deputies serve as role models, counselors, and mentors building relationships between law enforcement and youths.   They also educate kids on topics such as bullying, Internet safety, conflict resolution, and anger management.   Their primary responsibility , though, is the safety of our children.

The presence of an SRO can act as a deterrent to crime.   Students often pass tips to. and confide in officers if someone brings something on campus that is not allowed or if they hear something might happen.   School Resource Officers can and do make arrests.

Most local arrests stem from disruption of a school function, such as by fighting or violation of probation.   Statewide in Florida assault and battery, disorderly conduct, and misdemeanor drug violations represent more than half of school related delinquency arrests according to a Juvenile Justice Report. 

Critics of School Resource Officer programs say they send the wrong message and create an atmosphere that leads to an increase in juveniles being introduced to the criminal justice system.   Supports for the programs is meeting resistance by those who feel schools need to be focused on education and not police actions.  Some point to data that shows administrative measures in non SRO schools can contribute to lower crime rates.  Some studies indicate that SRO's make arrests for  matters that should be handled through school disciplinary channels and should not have escalated to the level of criminal charges being filed in criminal court.

Here in St. Lucie County, Florida we have 4 officers and 1 civilian provided by the Port St. Lucie Police Department and 25 deputies provided by the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office.  The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice reports that for the 2011 - 12 year there were 379 arrests on St. Lucie County Schools grounds, school buses, bus stops or at school events.   That is a rate of 18 arrests for each 1,000 students.   It is considered a high rate, higher than the 10 per 1,000 state average.  

The year with the highest number of arrests was 2005 - 06 with 662 arrests.  The last three years have been trending downward with rates of 30, 21, 18 respectively.   Law enforcement officials at least partially credit the presence of  officers for the decline.

So, there you have it.  Are School Resource Officers an asset to our schools and communities?  You decide.

Mainstream Media or Lame-Stream Media

Mainstream Media or Lame-Stream Media:

I'm tired of commercial television news.  There are too many advertisements.  It's about the money, you know. The "lead-ins" and "teasers" make you think they are going to give you new information you absolutely need.  Most of the time it's not.   It has been said that we as Americans gravitate to the disturbing story.  There is no shortage of those. Stations and networks seem to be happy to oblige.  Then there is the weather.   The weather forecasters make it sound like weather related destruction is imminent.  There is nothing anyone can do about the weather.  How they find the neighborhoods with the most damage and or flooding after a storm is amazing.  Hurricane season is like Christmas season to them. A whole six months to talk about possible disaster.  In the end the forecast is always the same.  These storms are very hard to predict.  You have to tune in to find out the newest forecast track.  Frankly, I find it all very stressful.

To be fair, the competition for viewers has never been greater.  With all the specialized channels available, it is a hard fight for local news outlets to retain viewership.  You have all news channels. You have all weather channels.  News and weather are available on your computer and phone.  Local channels have to entice viewers to tune in any way they can.  Sometimes they walk a fine line as to what is permissible.   As a viewer I sometimes feel like I'm being manipulated.  Of course I have the power to register my discontent.  It's called a remote.

Each year the FCC receives a wide variety of comments and complaints about television news coverage.   The complaints range from inaccurate or one-sided reporting  to failure to cover some events, covering them adequately, or over emphasizing or dramatizing certain events.   The FCC's authority to respond  is narrow in scope and it is prohibited from censorship or infringing on First Amendment rights.   While federal law does prohibit obscene, indecent, or profane language, it cannot interfere with selection and presentation of news or commentary. 

Broadcasters are considered public trustees and as such may not intentionally distort the news.  The FCC  considers "rigging" or slanting the news as  a heinous act.   The FCC may act when it receives documented evidence of "rigging" or slanting from insiders or persons with direct personal knowledge of intentional falsification. 

Concerns or comments about a specific news broadcast or commentary should be directed to the local station and network involved, so management will be informed about audience opinion.  Complaints regarding news distortion, rigging, or slanting can be filed with the FCC, but remember the complaint must include documented evidence of the event and showing deliberate misrepresentation.

For those wanting to bypass commercial television news and weather I recommend NPR (National Public Radio) and also PBS (Public Broadcast System).  These entities also have websites which can be accessed.  Computer searching specific topics  will also bring up information.  For weather  I recommend The Weather Channel.  It can be accessed anytime of the day or night.  You don't have to wait or endure a bunch of commercials.  For hurricane information you can directly access The National Hurricane  Center online and get the same information your local weather forecaster is getting. 

So, take matters into your own hands.  You can access the same information you'll hear on TV without all the hype and commercials.  You can do it.

This week the world welcomed the new Prince of Cambridge.  Named George Alexander Louis he is officially called Prince George of Cambridge.  He is third in line to be king of the British Monarchy.   He is son to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, William and Kate.   He will one day be king.   He is preceded in the line of succession by his father, Prince William, and his grandfather, Prince Charles.

Great Britain is a constitutional monarchy.   The role of the Monarch is largely symbolic.   The role is described as "focus of national unity", that is in other words a "tourist attraction".  The monarch and his/her immediate family undertake various official ceremonial, diplomatic, and representational duties.  Since the monarchy is constitutional, the monarch is limited to non-partisan functions such as bestowing honors and appointing the Prime Minister.  The Monarch is also the traditional Commander in chief of the British Armed Forces.  At the end of the day, though, the Monarch takes little direct part in government.  The decisions to exercise Sovereign powers are delegated from the monarch either by statute or by convention, to Ministers or officers of the Crown or other public bodies.

As Monarch the King of Queen is  Benefactor of "The Crown Estate".  The Crown Estate consists of a $13 billion real estate portfolio, $10 billion in urban property and $3 billion in rural property.   The Estate also includes golf clubs, parks, apartment buildings, retail space, mineral rights, and much more.  Technically the monarch owns maritime life reaching 12 nautical miles off the coast on England.  In 2012 profits from "The Crown Estate" were $450 million.  In 2012 Parliament passed the "Sovereign Grant" which entitles the sitting Monarch to the rough equivalent of 15% of revenues from "The Crown Estate".  The remainder of the money goes into the treasury   The Monarch receives services equivalent to the predetermined amount.   These are services like travel, security, and maintenance at the "occupied royal palaces."  All this typically amounts to between $40 - $60 million worth of public services.   The Monarch does not have to pay any rent, mortgage or property tax on the various castles. The taxpayers of Great Britain subsidize the Monarch and his/her extended family, and there area no taxes on these state provided benefits. 

Since 1992 Queen Elizabeth has agreed to pay personal and capital gains taxes on her other sources of income, just like any other taxpayer.  The Queen's private income, known as the "Privy Purse" is derived mainly from her ownership of the Duchy of Lancaster, a 46000 acre territory that has been passed down to the sitting Monarch since 1399.  She earns around $25 million per year from the Duchy of Lancaster.   She uses this  money to fund expenses incurred by the extended Royal Family.

In an agreement that dates back to King George III (American Colonial times) the Monarch turns over to Parliament the revenue  from the royal lands.   This comes to about $300 million a year.  In return Parliament supports the Royal Family at a cost of about $60 million a year.  This is a net profit for Parliament of $240 million a year.   Then there are the general benefits to U.K. tourism that derive from the Royal Family.   These profits come from airports, hotels, restaurants, shops, homes, and streets full of tourists.   Incidentally,  most of the tourists are Americans.   The economic boost from the birth of the new Prince is estimated to be close to $800 million. 

So, there you have it,  real life Kings and Queens, Princes and Princesses, Dukes and Duchesses,  occupied castles and much pomp  and circumstance.   This is not to mention all the money that is generated.  Just like a fairy tale, only it's real.   Is it any wonder that the Monarchy has survived.

Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman Case

 

Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman Case:

On February 26, 2012 in Sanford, Florida an unarmed seventeen year old  Trayvon Martin had a confrontation with a twenty-eight year old neighborhood watch captain named George Zimmerman.   The face to face  confrontation lasted only two minutes but left Martin dead from a gunshot wound.  Zimmerman, who was licensed to carry a firearm,  claimed it was self defense.  There were no eye witnesses to the whole confrontation.  The little evidence available included  the taped 911 call that Zimmerman made during the confrontation.  

After questioning Zimmerman at length the Sanford Police Department believed his story and released him.  The failure to arrest Zimmerman cost the police chief his job.  A new police chief was appointed and Zimmerman was soon arrested.  At issue was race. Martin was black.  Zimmerman is multiracial being part Hispanic. 

Over a year later at trial the main question was whether the six women jurors  believed that Zimmerman was in fear of his life.  The six member jury rather than 12 members is prescribed by Florida law.   A key question was identifying the voice crying out for help  on the 911 tape.  Martin's family was sure it was Trayvon.  Zimmerman's family was sure it was George.  Another point was that Zimmerman had bruises on his face and head.  Martin had only the gunshot wound.  In play was the Florida "stand your ground" law which allows someone who feels threatened to respond with violence without retreating. Ultimately,  considering the evidence and following the law the jury found Zimmerman not guilty of  second degree murder as well as the lesser charge of manslaughter.

Many were outranged by the verdict.  Protests followed.  Fortunately no one was seriously injured, and no widespread property damage took place.  Immediately there was talk of charging Zimmerman under "hate crime" laws.  It was also mentioned that he could be charged in a civil case.    Zimmerman may have been found not guilty, but he certainly did not win anything.  He is hated by many.  He remains in hiding for fear of his life.  His family is also affected.  He is surely unemployable.  His life will never be the same as before.

Americans have a First Amendment right to assemble to protest as long as they don't hurt anyone or destroy property.  Justice Department officials say they are unlikely to prosecute George Zimmerman because it would be very difficult to prove he acted out of racial bias.   The FBI has been looking at the case for a year .  A civil suit is unlikely to be successful, because of the "stand your ground" statute and it would bring out information about Trayvon Martin that was excluded for the criminal case.  That is his marijuana use and text messages which describe him as being in fights.

Attorney General Eric Holder says that laws like Florida's "stand your ground" statute which allows someone who feels threatened to respond with violence without retreating must be examined because they eliminate the common sense age old requirement that people who feel threatened have a duty to retreat, outside their home, if they can safely do so.   Perhaps the revisiting of the "stand your ground" statute is a positive outcome of the case.

To be sure, our national debate shows two sides talking about two different things , either the two minutes Martin and Zimmerman were face to face, or the centuries  of racial context that many believe caused a senseless death.  We have come a long way in America  with regard to racial relations, but we still have a long way to go.

Cleveland Kidnap Victims Speak

Just this week three victims of 52 year old Ariel Castro spoke publicly after being held captive for over ten years in the basement of Castro's Cleveland home.  They are Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus, and Michelle Knight.  Over the ten years the girls were beaten, starved, and raped.   Amanda Berry was able to break out and go for help while Castro was out of the house.

After just two months of freedom the victims made their first public  statements in a You Tube video posted for them by a Cleveland PR firm.  A team of lawyers and crisis management experts are helping them without charge.  They also have money donated to a fund to help with their recovery in excess of a million dollars.  Other high profile kidnap victims waited longer to make their first public statements.  Elizabeth Smart waited more than nine months, and Jaycee Dugard waited two years.

Psychiatrist Gail Saltz  described the video as "smart" and "controlled".   Their hair was styled and their clothes carefully chosen.  They weren't crying.  They did not look traumatized.  They didn't talk about their captor.  They were smiling and upbeat.  According to  Dr. Saltz this makes us less interested.  They gave the media enough information to temporarily keep them at bay.  Americans tend to gravitate towards the disturbing story.  What the girls need right now is privacy to help them recover. 

In their statements Amanda Berry spoke about thankfulness.  Gina Dejesus spoke of the help of family and friends.  Michelle Knight spoke about God and faith.  To be sure these girls have a long road of recovery ahead of them..  I do believe they have a good start. 

As for us, I think we have a lesson here.  It is that to survive and succeed we need to have an attitude of thankfulness, rely on our family and friends, and strengthen our faith in God and ourselves.   I'm not a fan of the "disturbing stories" the media insists on telling.  What I do recommend is finding the lesson to help make a better life for all of us.

God bless Amanda. Gina, and Michelle.

Hurricane Season

Here we are again.  It's hurricane season.  The Atlantic hurricane season lasts from June 1st to November 30th.  This season, 2013, is forecasted  to produce 18 tropical storms with 9 becoming hurricanes, of which 4 will be major hurricanes.  A typical year will have 12 tropical storms with 7 becoming hurricanes.  There is a 72% chance that a major hurricane will strike on the U.S. coastland this year.  For the east coast and Florida it is 48% and for the gulf coast it is 47%.

This year the tropical Atlantic unexpectedly warmed over the last several months  and the chances of El Nino phenomenon are unlikely.  El Nino is associated with strong vertical shear creating conditions less conducive to storm development.  Seventy-eight percent of storms form from August to October.   The last three Atlantic seasons have had 19 storms each season.  In fact over the last 10 seasons only one season was forecast to have an average number of storms.  All the rest have been average to above average or normal to above normal  and above average or above normal. 

Forecasts come from meteorologists Philip Klotzbach and William Gray at Colorado State University's Tropical Meteorology Project. Gray's team was the first organization to issue forecasts back in 1984.  This is the team's 30th season of hurricane forecasts.  The Weather Channel and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration also issue forecasts.   These annual projections are intended to provide a best estimate of activity to be experienced during the season, not an exact measure.  Insurance companies, emergency managers, and news media use the forecasts to prepare Americans for the season's likely threat. 

The source of most of the forecasts delivered  on your TV news and smartphones is supercomputers in Reston and Orlando.  An infusion of Hurricane Sandy related dollars this year will help the weather service upgrade two supercomputers that are used in virtually all U.S. weather predictions.

The behavior of the atmosphere is governed by physical laws which can be expressed as mathematical equations.  The best hurricane forecasting models are "global" models that solve the equations at every point on the globe.  Models that solve these equations are called a "dynamical" models.  The four best hurricane forecast models are ECMWF (European Center for Medium Range Weather Forecasts), GFDL (NWS Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory), GFS (Global Forecast System), UKMET (United Kingdom Met Office).  These models take several hours to run on the world's most sophisticated computers.  Even so they have there limitations due to accuracy and availability of data and our incomplete understanding of  the atmosphere.  There are other less sophisticated models than can be run in a shorter period of time.

At the end of the day after all the hype and the TV teasers and the new tracks etc., etc. it has been said that a good forecast is one that is communicated well and leads to good decisions by public officials and the general populace.

You must decide what supplies you will need (food, water, medicine) and procure them.  You must decide what is necessary to prepare the outside of your home  and whether and when to shutter.  There are many checklists available from various sources.  Most TV stations put out an annual hurricane guide which is available at the supermarket.  I got one from my local Community Center.  Some decisions will be made for you, such as when or whether to go to work or send the kids to school..  There may be a curfew.

So, hurricane season presents us with some challenges.  Keep informed.   Get prepared early.  Be that person who having prepared and strengthened himself can be a help to others.  One other thing,  don't watch too much about the storm on the television.  It'll make you crazy.

Texting While Driving

Texting Bill Becomes Law:

Governor Rick Scott signed Florida's texting bill making Florida the 41st state to enact a texting while driving  law.   The law makes reading or sending text, email, or instant messages on a smartphone a secondary offense.  That means police have to first stop drivers for another offense.  Florida's seatbelt law began as a secondary offense, but is now a primary offense.  The texting law is likely to take the same route.   It took five tries to pass the law with House Republican conservatives worried about government intrusion into people's lives.  The House did add a provision allowing police to use drivers' mobile phone records against them only when texting causes a crash resulting  in death or personal injury.

In Florida in 2012 there were 256,443 crashes.  Of these 4841 involved a driver texting or otherwise using an electronic communication device.  That is 1.9% .   According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which regulates the trucking industry, drivers who text take their eyes off the road for almost 5 seconds.  At 55 mph a driver can travel the length of a football field while not looking. 

Clearly texting while driving is not a good idea.  In a survey 87% of teens think driving while texting is dangerous.  Yet, 80% of teenage girls and 58% of teenage boys admitted texting while behind the wheel.  So, we need to give what should be common sense  the force of law.   This is what I call a "Wait till your father gets home!" law.   We try to legislate common sense and responsibility.  We ask the state to do what we as parents cannot, or we as adults will not do: motivate people to do what is  correct, moral and responsible only the state does it under penalty of law.

At it's core texting while driving is about driving while distracted.   The government website Distraction.gov defines a driving distraction as "any activity that could divert a person's attention from the primary task of driving."  They list the following activities as driving distractions:

Texting                                                           Reading, including maps
Using a cell phone or smartphone                 Using a navigation system
Eating and drinking                                       Watching a video  
Talking to passengers                                     Adjusting a radio, CD player, or MP3 player
Grooming

So, Florida, keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel.  Oh yeah, and keep your mouth shut.   Drive safely!

Should Guantanamo Bay detention camp be closed?

 

Should Guantanamo Bay detention center be closed?

The Guantanamo Bay Naval Station (GTMO also known as "Gitmo") was established in 1898 when the U.S. took control of Cuba from Spain following the Spanish American War.  Gitmo covers about 45 square miles.  A perpetual lease for the area around Guantanamo Bay was offered  in 1903 by Tomas Estrada Palma, the first president of Cuba. 

The Guantanamo Bay detention camp is a detainment and interrogation facility of the U.S. military located within the Guantanamo  Bay Naval Base.  It was established in January of 2002 during the Bush administration to hold detainees connected to the Global War on Terror, which includes Afghanistan, Iraq, the Horn of Africa, and Southeast Asia.  It is operated by the Joint Task Force Guantanamo of the U.S. government. 

On June 22, 2009 President Barak Obama signed an order to suspend proceeding of the Guantanamo military commission for 120 days and to shut down the facility within the year.  This never happened.  With 100 detainees now on a hunger strike with 23 being force fed, the issue of closing Gitmo is before us again.

Well, I thought about that .......Here's what I think.

Close Guantanamo Bay detention camp immediately!

Since 2002 779 detainees have been brought to Guantanamo.   Most have been released without charge.  Only 3 have ever been convicted of any crime.  As of March 2013 only 166 remain.

Current and former prisoners have complained of abuse and torture.   In 2005 an Amnesty International report called the Guantanamo Bay detention camp the "gulag" of our time.   In 2006 the United Nations called unsuccessfully for the camp to be closed.    One judge observed, "America's idea of what is torture.... does not appear to coincide with that of most  civilized nations." 

In May of 2009 the U.S. Senate passed an Amendment to block funds needed for the transfer or release of prisoners.  In February of 2011 then Secretary of Defense Gates told the Senate Armed Services Committee, "The prospects for closing Guantanamo as best I can tell you are very, very low given the very broad opposition to do that here in Congress. 

The idea that these detainees need to be tried by military commission is not correct.  Federal courts hear terrorism cases constantly.  There is no reason to think they cannot handle the cases coming out of Guantanamo.  The detainees have no prospect for release.  They are being held indefinitely.  It is widely recognized that the extralegal detention of Muslims has become an important source for extremist recruiters and a source of America's diminished moral standing in the world. 

Dr. Alia Brahimi, Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Oxford has written,  "Guantanamo was established in the name of civilization.  The Bush administration claimed it was the custodian of civilization against forces of barbarism.  They argued that we are allowed to break civilized rules because we are the good guys defending civilization.  The closing of Guantanamo will set free 166 souls from the cruelty of this irony so will it liberate the U.S. from the strains of  moral hypocrisy, and enable us to lay claim to being civilized once more."

President Obama has said this past week that the Guantanamo prison is "inefficient",  inspires new terrorists, alienates our allies, and "is contrary to who we are".  I agree!

Same Sex Marriage

Same Sex Marriage:

On March 27th, 2013 the Supreme Court heard oral arguments  surrounding the Defense of Marriage Act, a federal law that prevents legally married gay couples from receiving a range of benefits afforded opposite sex married couples.  The justices are expected to reach a ruling by July 2013.

There are currently twelve countries that allow same sex couples to marry nationwide.  They are Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, and Uruguay.  There are also several sub-national jurisdictions including Brazil, Mexico, and the United States.   Studies in several countries show support for legal recognition of same sex marriage increases with higher levels of education and support is strong among younger people.   Polls show rising support for legally recognizing same sex marriage across all races, religions, ethnicities, ages, political affiliations, socioeconomic status, etc.

The scientific literature indicates that the parents' financial, psychological, and physical well-being is enhanced by marriage and that children benefit from being raised by two parents within a legally recognized union (either opposite sex or same sex).  The children of gay and lesbian parents are as psychologically healthy and well adjusted as children of heterosexual couples.  On the other hand a 2010 Columbia's University study found an increase in psychiatric disorders, including a doubling of anxiety disorders among the gay and lesbian population in states that ban same sex marriage.

The worlds largest religions vary in their views on same sex marriage.  Various faith communities around the world support allowing same sex couples to marry and/or conduct same sex marriage ceremonies.  These include Quakers, American Episcopalians, the Metropolitan Community Church, United Church of Christ, United Churches of Canada, Buddhism in Australia, Reform and Conservative Jews, Wiccans, Druids, Unitarian Universalists, and Native American religions with a two spirit tradition.

Opponents argue that altering the traditional definition of marriage as between a man and woman will further weaken the threatened institution of marriage and that legalizing gay marriage may lead to polygamous and inter species marriages.

To be sure the recognition of same sex marriage is a civil rights, equality, human rights, political, social , moral, and religious issue.

Well, I thought about that......... and I believe that in the land of the free and the home of the brave there is room for  same sex marriage.   The arguments  I have heard against same sex marriage, I do not consider as compelling.    Arguments as to the definition of  marriage are semantic.   Fears to what it may lead to are exaggerated.   I find the arguments for same sex marriage make sense.

The first historical mention of same sex marriage was during the early Roman Empire.   Gays and lesbians have been around for centuries.  They will continue to form couples and families whether we sanction it or not.  To deny these citizens the same recogniton and benefits as opposite  sex married couple is to discriminate.  Because we do not understand  or accept gays and lesbians  is not  a valid reason to deny them the rights other groups enjoy. 

One newscaster opined that the reason the gay and lesbian community has not gained the status it seeks is because it is under-represented in government.   Perhasps if more gays and lesbians were elected to Congress and state legislatures, we might see a change.

North Korean Nuclear Threat

In a provocative move that is driving up international tensions North Korea moved two mid range missiles by train to its eastern coast and placed them on launch platforms.  They have also threatened attacks on the U.S. and declared a state of war exists with South Korea since receiving U.N. sanctions after carrying out a third nuclear weapons test.  The North Korean rockets are believed to have a range of 2500 miles.  That puts them in range of U.S. troops in Japan and South Korea but not the U.S. mainland.

Despite all the rhetoric military analysts suggest a full scale conflict is unlikely.  For several decades China has been North Korea's closest ally, largest trading partner, and primary source of aid.   Observers suggest, however, that there is a subtle shift in Chinese foreign policy.   North Korean expert Daniel Pinkston says Beijing is fed up with the distractions created by Pyongyang.   So much for North Korea's main ally.  North Korea is basically on its own. 

In the meantime the U.S. is preparing to send advanced defenses to its Pacific territory.  U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel has pledged a measured response.   An anti-missile system is being deployed in Guam.  The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense System which was scheduled to be installed in 2015 will now be sent within weeks.  This land based system includes interceptor missiles, a truck based launcher, and radar tracking equipment capable of shooting down short, medium, and intermediate range ballistic missiles.

Well, I thought about that and here's what I think:  The U.S. is following the right path.  What we need is a measured response.   Cool heads must prevail.  The North Korean regime is a very secretive  one.  We do not know what their intentions are.   To misinterpret, miss step or act too soon could lead to disaster. 

The Cost of Healthcare in the U.S.

Everyone knows  that the cost of medical care in the U.S. is very high.   We buy insurance to help pay the cost which we may not otherwise be able to afford.   Some of us can't afford the insurance so we go without.  The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development is a group that keeps track of the costs and other issues in medical care.  The statistics mentioned in this blog are from them via PBS. Most Americans believe and many politicians will tell you that we have the best health care system in the world.  The reality is that we pay much more than anyone else and our outcomes are often not as good.

 Health care costs in the U.S. are $2.6 trillion a year.  This is 17.6% of GDP.  Let's compare some numbers.  The average per person, per year cost of health care in the U.S. is $8,233.  That is two and a half times the OECD average cost of $3,268.   We spend more in all categories.  We spend $900 per person per year just on  administrative costs.  By comparison France spends $300.  We have been slow to embrace technology and cut down on waste.

Hospital services cost 85% more in the U.S.  The average hospital stay costs $18,000.  The average cost of a hospital stay for OECD countries is one third at $6200.  These counties have strong regulation to set prices that hospitals can charge.   The quality of care is comparable and universities still attract the best students to medicine.   In the U.S. the prices for certain procedures are much higher resulting in higher incomes for physicians.  U.S. physicians also use more expensive diagnostic procedures.  Studies have shown that one-fourth to one-third of all hospital patients suffer harm from adverse events that occur during their stays. Sixty-five per cent of these adverse events are due to failures in communication.

In the U.S. we have fewer practicing physicians.  We have 2.4 per 1000  people as opposed to 3.1 average in OECD countries.  The U.S. uses a "fee for service" system that charges for each visit, procedure, and test.  The more doctors do,  the more money they make.  The pay depends on insurance.  So it comes down to if your insurance will pay for something whether you need it or not.   OECD countries use a "common fee" schedule by which doctors and health services are paid similar rates for most patients.  If certain costs exceed what is budgeted, they are flexible in lowering the fees they will pay in that area.  There are few methods for controlling rising costs in private insurance in the U.S.  They pass the increase along to patients rather than asking providers to contain costs. 

The U.S. is known for over-testing and over-treating.   Tests are subject to the doctor's opinion as to whether they are desirable or not.  The reasons sighted for this over-kill are: 1. fear of litigation; 2. more pay for more service regardless of necessity;  3. patients ask for more tests and services regardless of need  with insurance that will pay all or most of the extra.  Despite this extra testing and services the U.S. life expectancy is 78.2 years compared to the average OECD country expectancy of 79.5 years.  

To be fair the U.S. leads the world in health care research and cancer treatment .  On the other hand we very much need stronger policies in tackling poor health lifestyles.   As a nation we are getting older with more chronic diseases and obesity. 

Well, I thought about that ... and here's what I think.   First of all, we have to take control and responsibility for our own health and health care.   We need to remember that the health care system is there to help us, not control us.   With more and more large corporations and practices  we need to remember that they focus on bottom line.  We need to focus on and decide what is best for us.  They can provide the medical knowledge and experience to make decisions, but they are our decisions. 

Here's what you can do:  1. Pay attention; 2. Ask questions; 3. Never assume that any doctor or hospital is error free.   Be a list maker.  Write it down.  Keep track of what you are taking and doing and why.  Write down your questions for your nurse or doctor.   Work towards the healthiest lifestyle you can.   There is also a book you may want to consider.  "The Patient's Checklist:  10 Simple Hospital Checklists to Keep You Safe, Sane, and Organized" by Elizabeth Bailey.

Be well!                                

Habemus papam !

With the words "Habenus papam !"(We have a pope !) Roman Catholics were introduced to their new leader, the 266th Roman Pontiff.  He is 76 year old Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aries.   He will be known as Pope Francis.  Bergoglio is the Buenos Aries born son of middle class Italian immigrants.   He is the first Latin American born pope, the first Jesuit, and the first to choose the name "Francis".

He has a reputation for humility having denied himself  luxuries previous Buenos Aries cardinals enjoyed.  He lived in a one room apartment in Buenos Aries, often cooked his own meals, and took the bus to get around town.   He is also described as loving with a special love for the poor and  marginalized.  He is also spiritual and capable.     He considers social outreach, rather than doctrinal battles, to be the essential business of the Church.   As a cardinal he worked to repair the reputation of  the church which was losing many followers by failing to speak out openly to challenge Argentina's murderous 1976 - 83 dictatorship.

In choosing the name "Francis"  he brings to mind 13th century Francis of Assisi who loved the poor and saw his calling as trying to rebuild the Chuirch in a time of turmoil.  A well respected blog that follows Vatican affairs called "Whispers in the Loggia" has this to say, "By choosing the name (Francis) of the founder of his community's traditional rivals, the 266th Roman Pontiff has signaled three things:  his desire to be a force of unity in a polarized fold, a heart for the poor, and his intent to "repair" God's house, which has fallen into ruins (that is to rebuild the Church).

Well, I thought about that......and here's what I think.  God Bless Pope Francis.  I think this time we got it right.  He will be the one to lead the Church in the 21st century.  May he have a long and glorious pontificate.

Sequestration Schmequestration

You can't pick up the paper or turn on the news today without hearing about "Sequestration".  Sequestration is a series of across the board budget cuts tied to the expiration of the nation's temporary budget and temporary debt ceiling.  The cuts will total $1.2 trillion over a ten year period.  The cuts would be split 50-50 between the defense department and domestic discretionary spending.   It was created as a way to force Congress to take action to reduce the spending deficit.  At the time the law was passed Congress never thought we would get to the point of sequestration.  We have known sequestration was imminent for the past year.

So here we are at the deadline, and our elected leaders are incapable or unwilling to take the necessary steps to balance the budget.   Anywhere they cut funding someone is going to be unhappy, and they are just unwilling to man up to that.  So they do nothing, the economy suffers,  and they point fingers at each other.

In the meantime February unemployment  dropped to 7.7%, the lowest since December of 2008.  The Dow Jones Industrial Average has been at record highs.  Now keep in mind that 70% of the U.S. economy is dependent on consumer spending.   It appears the economy is showing some real signs of recovery and our Congress deals us another wound by allowing these cuts to take place.  Private forecasters predict that economic growth  this year will slow 0.5 percentage points.

Well, I thought about that and .............. I think we have a government that is reluctant to govern.   We elect politicians who tell us what their research says we want to hear.  Once elected they do what they want or what they think will get them reelected when the time comes.   They cry wolf at anything that may happen, so we will be agreeable to what they want.  They will select cuts that will be visible and painful to make sure we will submit.

We need statesmen and not politicians.  We need men and women who will make the difficult choices.  We need to be informed and involved in our democratic process.  I've found that in life we have to take responsibility for our destiny.  We cannot leave it to another.

Poll says 70% of Floridians favor Medical Marijuana

In a poll taken for "People United for Medical Marijuana" (PUFMM)  regarding an amendment to legalize the use of  medical marijuana in Florida 70% of Floridians back the amendment, while 24% are opposed.   PUFMM would like to put the amendment on the 2014 ballot.   It is going to be an uphill battle.  It will take 683,149 valid signatures from Florida voters.   They currently have about 100,000 signatures all of which are not valid.   In the meantime Florida State Senator Jeff Clemens has  introduced a medical marijuana bill.  He has a co-sponsor for the bill in the Florida House.   Under his bill patients with medical need would be allow to possess 4 ounces of  marijuana and grow up to 8 plants. Senator Clemens first introduced a medical marijuana bill in 2010 which was quickly defeated.  Will he be more sucessful this time?  He anticipates a 6-8 year struggle.   The state of California  has legal medical marijuana for some time, however Prosposition 19  to legalize recreational use was narrowly defeated receiving 46.2% of the vote despite widespread support.  

Currently 12 states have medical marijuana laws:  Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.  Maryland has a law authorizing medical marijuana use, but does not allow patients to grow the plants.

Well, I thought about that  .......... and I think that medical marijuana may very well be an idea whose time has come.   We are not in virgin territory here.  Twelve states have already allowed medical marijuana.   The fabric of our society has not disintegrated.  Opponents will tell you that we have medicines that  can do the same things as marijuana.  Yet there are patients  who will tell their doctors that they do not get the same relief from pills as from marijuana.

Under the federal Controlled Substance Act marijuana is considered a Schedule 1 drug, along with heroin, LSD, and Ecstacy.  They hold that marijuana has a high potential for abuse, has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the U.S. , and has a lack of acceepted safety for use under medical supervision.    You can decide whether you  agree with that assessment.

The body of research concerning the medicinal use of marijuana is extensive.   Research has shown that the cannabinoids in marijuana help reduce anxiety and slow the development of certain cancers.   Marijuana has been shown to decrease nausea and increase appetite.  For glaucoma patients marijuana helps lower intraocular pressure.  Some types of  pain such as peripheral neuropathy respond better to marijuana than conventional  pain relievers.

I think we should carefully consider whether to allow the use of this substance that may help to relieve pain and suffering.  If not,  we may want to ban alcohol  for the pain and destruction it creates, although we tried that once before.  How about banning sugar.  Maybe we can stamp out obesity and diabetes.  What do you think?

Gasoline prices on the rise again.

Just a couple of months ago gasoline prices were falling and it looked as though we were headed for an oversupply until Saudi Arabia cut production and demand from China rose unexpectedly.   Gas prices typically rise about this time of the year,  because of refinery maintenance schedules and the switch to a more expensive blend of summer gas. Florida's Gulf Coast refineries are currently operating at less than 85% of capacity.  In December they were over 95%.  Actually, market trends and price fluctuations at the pump have been similar to 2011 and 2012 leading analysts prices will peak in April and then retreat.  In the meantime prices have been rising rapidly for 32 days straight.  The average price is $3.73 a gallon and that is a record for February.  In California gas has peaked at over $5.00 a gallon.

Well, I thought about that, and here's what I think.   The fluctuations  in gas prices are all a big game.  The price of gas goes  up, then it goes down then it goes back up again.  The general trend though is up.   Supplies are up and they're down.  The refineries are having maintenance done.   As far as I'm concerned these are all excuses.  The suppliers are making plenty of money at everyone else's expense.   No one is interested in solving the problem.  They're making too much money.

I believe there is a silver lining in this cloud.   We will gradually and eventually reduce our dependence  on fossil fuels.   A lot has already been done.  Cars are much more efficient.  We are improving our use of alternate fuel supplies.  We have more and more hybirds and electric vehicles.  This needs to continue.  If the price of gas went down it would not.   During the 1970's we experienced shortages of gas and the price started to rise.   We began to want smaller and more efficient vehicles.  Then as time went by there were no more lines at the gas pumps and we went back to wanting big vehicles.   I think we hit the top with the Hummer.   Now  we are forced to go back to smaller vehicles.  I think this is a good thing. 

In the meantime I think we should look for ways to conserve gas and work towards getting the most efficient vehicle we can.  Europeans have been driving smaller cars for years.

Pope Benedict XVI resigns.

I was as suprised as anyone to hear that Pope Benedict XVI is resigning.  The pope resigning  has not happened in about 600 years.  So, what's next for the Catholic Church?

Well, I thought about that .......... and here's what I'm thinking.  

The average age for a pope at election for the years 1700 to 2005 is 65 years.  That makes Benedict a little on the older side when elected.  He was 78.  He is probably a fill in pope.  Some one to reign for a short period until someone younger comes along.   So, I'm looking for a younger new pope who will have more time to direct the Church into the 21st century.

Benedict dedicated  his pontificate to stemming the the spread of secularism, especially in Europe, where church attendance has dwindled.  He wanted to restore Catholic traditions mostly abandoned during the modernizing changes of the Second Vatican Council.   The pope relaxed restrictions on celebrating the old Latin Mass.  Benedict was the first pope to meet with victims of clergy sex abuse.  He stopped short of disciplining cardinals and bishops who kept guilty priests in ministry or hid claims from parents and police.  Benedict's first official act as pope was a letter to Rome's Jewish community.  In his 2011 book "Jesus of Nazareth" he made a sweeping exoneration of the Jewish people for the death of Christ.

Technically to be elected pope you need to be a baptized Roman Catholic male.  That's it!   Don't get too excited though.  Only cardinals have been selected since 1378.  Among the cardinals who are considered contenders for next pope are Cardinal  Scola, archbishop of Milan; Cardinal Schoenborn,  archbishop of Vienna; Cardinal Ouellet, the Canadian head of the Vatican's office for bishops;  Cardinal Dolan, archbishop of New York; Cardinal Tagle, archbishop of Manilla; Cardinal Turkson of Ghana who heads the Vatican's office for justice and peace.    Perhaps the Cardinals will choose someone from Latin America  given the large number of Catholics in that part of the world.   The College of Cardinals  will meet within 15-20 days after Benedicts's Feb. 28th resignation.  A new  pope is expected by Easter. 

Whoever is elected pope do not look for any sweeping changes.   The truths of faith which the Church has held through the centuries will not change.  We hope for changes in traditions which the Church has established and therefore  can change.  Perhaps we will see married priests.  Maybe a broader stance on the dissolution of marriage or birth control.  Only time will tell.