Tuesday, July 8th, 2008
Remember when New Jerseyans were told we are in tough economic times? Remember how municipal aid was slashed? Hospital subsidies cut? How Gov. Corzine fought for a responsible budget?
The spending spree has begun today. On the heels of commandeering $3.9 billion outside the budget from tax payers, Corzine is set to begin an expansion of state government unseen before.
New Jersey is expanding a government health insurance program to cover more low-income families and provide coverage for all children in the state.
The bill scheduled to be signed today by Gov. Jon Corzine is viewed as the first step toward requiring all New Jerseyans to have health insurance by 2011. It mandates that all children have insurance through government or a private provider within a year.
Got that? Government is mandating health insurance. And what happens if someone cannot afford insurance? That’s right, tax payers will fund it.
While the benevolent among us will state that it is the right thing to do, why should tax payers pick up the tab? This has welfare written all over it. There is no incentive to purchase insurance when one can rely on the government.
This is not the purpose of government, folks.
This new spending will need to be funded. Just where is that money going to come from?
Posted in New Jersey, Politics | No Comments »
Thursday, May 22nd, 2008
The new motto for the Garden State needs to be We Can’t Afford It. The other day I wrote about the Bayshore Heritage Byway that is proposed. As wonderful as it is, we can’t afford it.
The Daily Journal picked up on this as well. Today’s editorial is about expanding healthcare coverage to those who can’t afford it. Our elected officials say it will cost a mere $68 million more dollars this year. Sigh . . .
New Jersey has the highest property taxes in the nation and one of the worst business climates in the country. The state is at least $32 billion in debt and is facing structural billion-dollar budget deficits for years to come. Abbott school districts, including Vineland and Millville, have raised taxes and cut teachers. The state is planning to cut municipal aid and charge rural communities for state police coverage. The state simply has no money, and has its hand out to taxpayers for more.
We need to hammer home this message because the folks in Trenton just don’t get it.
Posted in Media, New Jersey, Politics | No Comments »
Wednesday, May 21st, 2008
When I first was hired in my district I was required to take a physical. The district picked up the tab and sent me to a doctor. I was new to the area and figured if my employer sent me to this guy, he must be all right.
All new teachers (it seems) find out that children carry germs and spend their first year teaching sick. So it was with me. I recall I came down with a nasty case of something. The doctor I had adopted put me on something. It made me violently ill. I returned the following day.
I am not one, and certainly back far less so than today, who goes to the doctor often. If I am in the office, it can be assumed I am ill. So there I was sick, bothered by the medicine I was prescribed, and out of work. This doctor sat behind his desk eating (a doughnut or something) with crumbs all over him. It bothered me enough to ask my colleagues to recommend another doctor. They did so.
This other doctor was part of a larger practice. I never did get to see him as I was assigned a different doctor at the firm. Over the course of several years I went in a few times. Each time I was kept waiting at least an hour. The issue that broke the proverbial camel’s back was another time I was very ill. I just wanted the antibiotics prescribed and for me to get back into bed. I was kept waiting. At an hour and a half I went to the nurse’s window and asked if tomorrow would be a better day to see the doctor. I received some sort of snippy remark. A little while later I was escorted to a room and after another wait, my doctor came in. He went right at me stating that sometimes they get backed up, etc., etc.
I did not argue. I got the last word as I sought another doctor. By this time I had met my wife and she suggested I use her family doctor. He sounded fine so I signed up. Whenever you see a doctor for the first time there is a pile of paperwork to be completed. I recall one form asked why I had left my previous doctor. I wrote that I tired of waiting to see someone after having an appointment.
The paperwork done and me on time for this initial visit, I waited to see my doctor. I waited. And waited. Eventually I was taken in and soon enough the doctor appeared. We chatted a bit. He asked me why I had left the previous doctor and I explained. He looked at his watch and then confirmed that they were running behind that day. He apologized.
I have been a patient ever since. The wait is usually minimal and the good doctor prescribes any medicine that my be needed. Again, I rarely go to see him. I really only need a GP to use to get referrals for my ear specialist. Again, my doctor serves that purpose well.
Well, until recently. We received a letter not too long ago telling us that the state of New Jersey had pulled his license. Sigh . . .
I can’t say I am terribly surprised. I’ll just leave it at that. Nevertheless, I seem to be once again in the market for a doctor.
Posted in Bob | No Comments »
Thursday, May 15th, 2008
Why does a march against gangs happen on Father’s Day? How about honoring Dad instead? . . . TwitterLocal is pretty kewl. Here is the feed for Millville and 20 miles out . . . I am getting old. My students had physical education today. Whilst picking them up, I took a couple swings with the “Nerf” covered bat. I swung so hard on the second pitch I hurt my wrist. Even so, the ball slammed off the far wall. My students were impressed. 
I’ll pay for this for a few days, I am sure . . . Haven’t been watching The Factor much recently. The more air time Dick Morris gets, the less I am inclined to tune in. He’s been wrong with his analysis throughout the campaign. Why does this john still get a platform? . . . Not that I am following this at all, but the headline caught my attention. “Because of this case, I have been financially crippled,” McGreevey told the judge. Oh please. The divorce hasn’t harmed you, your corrupt nature has affected your earning power. I am fine him not paying his wife millions. She seems to want servants, helicopters, and the like. But “the Gay American” should be forced to pay a certain percentage of his income, just in case he is not playing it straight in the trial. History says it’s a fair bet he isn’t . . . Hey, Sen. Obama, I understand your use of sweetie. I use sweetheart several times a day. Of course, I say it to nine- and ten-year old students . . . Just in case anyone thought government does not overstep its purview, check out what New Jersey is pushing through the legislature. Citizens apparently no longer have the right to not purchase health insurance . . . Oh, I can’t believe suing is going to help Carla Katz with the union . . . I have to say I agree that the NJ DOE should seek to recoup squandered tax dollars from school districts who misused the funds . . . FWIW, playoff hockey is exciting . . . Forget closing the state parks. I just found $143 million to cut from NJ’s budget. This money comes with no strings attached. I thought Corzine got rid of the Christmas tree fund. I guess not. Really, Garden State voters: how long are you going to vote for corruption? . . .
Posted in Education, Family, New Jersey, Politics, Sports, Twitter | No Comments »
Monday, September 3rd, 2007
John Edwards wants to be president. One of the issues he is running on is universal healthcare.
- Families without insurance will get coverage at an affordable price.
- Families with insurance will pay less and get more security and choices.
- Businesses and other employers will find it cheaper and easier to insure their workers.
Universal healthcare is one of those issues that sounds good until you question it. For instance, we keep hearing how many folks are not covered by health insurance. Yet, the US Census recently provided the smoking gun: nearly half of those reported to have no health insurance are illegal aliens. Remove those folks from the rolls, and the problem isn’t what is reported.
That does not stop Edwards from wanting to spend $90 to 120 billion annually to insure these people. Yesterday, Edwards shared a little more of his plan:
It requires that everybody be covered. It requires that everybody get preventive care,” he told a crowd sitting in lawn chairs in front of the Cedar County Courthouse. “If you are going to be in the system, you can’t choose not to go to the doctor for 20 years. You have to go in and be checked and make sure that you are OK.
Would-be President Edwards will remove your right to make medical decisions.
What would be the consequence of not complying with the government’s mandate?
And if he can force you to go to the doctor, he certainly will have the provision to determine if you need to go to the doctor. Isn’t that how this works in England? The government determines whether or not you need the service you and the doctor have determined is best?
Proponents of universal healthcare tug on our emotions. No one wants to be callous and deny citizens basic care. Anyone who is truly in need should be able to receive services, but as soon as government creates a program, one can be certain that will be bloated and inefficient. It is far better to encourage the private sector to care for those who need than for government.
Posted in Politics | No Comments »
