California State Government in Denial
Posted in Main Blog (All Posts) on March 2nd, 2010 5:31 am by HL
California State Government in Denial
The Cubanization of Venezuela
Jaime Daremblum, Weekly Standard
“There is nothing more exhilarating than to be shot at without result." Republicans and conservatives have recently had reason to appreciate the truth of Winston Churchill's statement. President Obama and the Democratic Congress had a real shot at transforming American politics and public policy into European-style social democracy. When Obama spoke to Congress a year ago, on February 24, 2009, it certainly seemed he would have a chance to succeed. Â Â Â The Cubanization of Venezuela began a long time ago, but it took another large step in early February, when…
The Case for High-Deductible Health Insurance
Michael Tanner, Cato
If President Obama's health care summit showed anything it is that when it comes to controlling health care costs there is bipartisan agreement in favor of looking for the easy solution. Both sides dragged out the traditional villains, “fraud, waste, and abuse.” There was the usual search for silver bullets. Republicans dwelled at length on medical malpractice Democrats talked about pooling and the advantages of comparative shopping through the exchanges. Everyone was in favor of preventive care.But both sides seem curiously unwilling to address the most important …
Hoosiers & Health Savings Accounts
Gov. Mitch Daniels, Wall St. Journal
As Washington prepares to revisit the subject of health-care reform, perhaps some fresh experience from Middle America would be of value.When I was elected governor of Indiana five years ago, I asked that a consumer-directed health insurance option, or Health Savings Account (HSA), be added to the conventional plans then available to state employees. I thought this additional choice might work well for at least a few of my co-workers, and in the first year some 4% of us signed up for it. In Indiana's HSA, the state deposits $2,750 per year into an account controlled by the employee, out…