Links and Minifeatures 02 19 Monday

Carnival of the Capitalists Recommended Wisdom From Wenchypoo's Mental Wastebasket (success by changing your attitude), David Maister (binding a client even tighter to you by admitting to a mistake - and fixing it)

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A few days ago, I wrote to Senator Boxer regarding the Ryan White AIDS testing program. This is what her office sent back:

Dear Mr. Melson:



Thank you for writing to express your views on the high costs of health care. I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue.



For the past six years, the Bush Administration and the Republican Congress have failed to respond effectively to rising health costs. As you know, health care costs and insurance premiums have soared in recent years, putting heavy strains on employers, workers, and families who are struggling to keep up. The average annual premium for family coverage has skyrocketed 81 percent since the year 2000 to over $11,000 a year. Currently, over 46 million Americans have no type of health insurance at all.



President Bush recently proposed a health care initiative that would use tax subsidies to encourage more people to purchase their own health insurance while imposing additional taxes on those who have comprehensive health policies. The President's proposal, if implemented, would do little to help the uninsured, most of whom have limited incomes and are in low tax brackets.



I believe the health care crisis demands a comprehensive solution that lowers the costs of medical care and makes health coverage available to all Americans. I am hopeful that the new Congress will move beyond the President's inadequate proposal and effectively work to meet the health care needs of hardworking Americans.



Thank you again for writing to me. Please do not hesitate to contact me again about this or any other issue.

I'm pretty sure you were elected to represent all Californians, Barbara, not just Democrats and people who hate Republicans. As a matter of fact, the Presidents health care proposal is a very good one, as it would, if enacted, lower the costs of the uninsured obtaining insurance (particularly the self employed and those whose employer does not provide it), and without robbing anyone else of money in order to pay for it. Give President Bush his due on the subject: he listened to real experts and came up with what would be, if Congress were to take him up on it, an effective Aikido blow against the problem of uninsured Americans.



Additionally, if I were going to change one other law to make it easier for health insurance to happen, it would be the California law that mandates the employer pay at least fifty percent of the premium. Of course, that's not politically popular with the "I hate capitalists" crowd, is it?



And we keep electing this Piece of Work to the Senate? The only time I don't wonder about the intelligence of my fellow Californians is when I'm sure they're three points dumber than a rock. Yes, they re-elected Arnold governor, but I'm not certain most of them were voting for his policies, and not for the Hollywood actor.



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Friday is usually a light traffic day, and Saturday is usually lower. Nowhere in the league of the first four days of the week. Nonetheless, my server logs say that February 16 was a new traffic record: 6410 visits and February 17th beat that by three: 6413. Interesting.



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Tapping Ahmadinejad's Egg over at VDH.



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Captain's Quarters notes polls that the majority of Americans want to win in Iraq.