Thursday, June 28, 2012

Thoughts on the Obamacare Decision

1) This ruling effectively allows the federal government to mandate anything it wants under the guise that "it's a tax." What does this mean? You have to buy an electric car, or else we'll tax you. You have to join the military, or we'll tax you. You have to go to a concentration camp, or we'll tax you. Of course, this isn't really anything new, since the government has been using the tax code to control behavior in this way for decades. However, this practice now has the Supreme Court's stamp of constitutionality behind it. This means that the constitution simply does not protect your rights in any meaningful way anymore.

2) Republicans like Mitt Romney who want to "repeal and replace" and keep provisions to prevent insurance companies from denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions are spineless, despicable cowards. The requirement for insurance to cover pre-existing conditions is the central evil of Obamacare. This provision outlaws the entire industry of health insurance. Health insurance is precisely that which you buy BEFORE you get sick in order to protect yourself if you get sick later. If you're already sick, you're not asking for insurance, you're asking for care. By making it illegal for insurance companies to decline coverage or to accept but charge more, this provision forces all insurance companies to become charities. We need charities, and we need insurance. Both serve crucial purposes. Now we will only have charities.

3) I had been toying with the idea of going to medical school when my obligation to the military is up. Barring a major change of heart from Republicans and a total repeal of this shameful law, there is absolutely no way that I would submit myself to that kind of torture now.



4) Justice Roberts, the deciding vote, was appointed by George W Bush. I don't think I need to add anything to that.


5) It's about time Dad gets a Facebook account.

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

For Sale

2" pipeline, patz gutter cleaner and chain, calftel indoor calf pens, barn fans, milking machines, boumatic fr4 vacuum pumps, pre-cooler, bale spears, backblades, polywire, posts and reels,  John Deere 5603, New Holland TN60A with loader and backhoe.  Inquire within.

Friday, June 01, 2012

If a Cow Laughed...

...would milk come out her nose?

How come abbreviated is such a long word?

These are a couple of one liners by Stephen Wright.  Maybe they aren't so funny when not delivered in his deadpan style, but they make me laugh.  Here are many more.  You'll notice a couple of familiar ones: cannibals eating a clown, statistics made up on the spot.  And here's another one from somewhere:  47% of people don't believe statistics when they are presented to them.