PUBLIC HEALTH CARE COMPETITION?

In medicine, the primary rule that is the Hippocratic Oath is “First Do No Harm”. The new healthcare public sector initiative that Congress is proposing violates openly this standard.

As the health care reform debate rages in Congress, the establishment of a new publicly funded medical insurance provider now seems to be on center stage. With their monopoly on power in Washington, the Democrats are fully intent on creating yet another new government agency to handle this function. This is hardly shocking; the Democrats have always represented growth in government.

But what is interesting and new is the argument being used that the creation of such entity will keep the private sector competitive and on its toes. This novel idea represents a first. Where, one is tempted to ask, has the public sector ever provided honest competition to the private sector?

The fact of the matter is that it is always the other way around. Governments around the world are trying to privatize state owned entities to make them more competitive and self sustaining. Proponents of privatization have always pointed out that state owned enterprises are usually slow, inefficient and consistently devoid of innovation. Not even the opponents of privatization have ever claimed that state owned enterprises are more efficient and competitive.

One is hard pressed to think of a single instance where a government enterprise has out performed the private sector. Certainly this was not the case with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Amtrak, TVA, the Export-Import Bank, etc.

The public sector has rarely, if ever…

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As Franklin overrides cap, Manchester can’t even vote on one…

From the office of Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta: Mayor Guinta decries yet another effort by Aldermen to subvert the will of the people MANCHESTER (July 8, 2009) – Mayor Frank Guinta blasted members of the Board of Aldermen for “yet another effort to subvert the will of the people” with their vote to send the … Read more

Guest Post: Don’t misunderstand what’s happening in Honduras. “Mrs. Clinton is lying.”

Zelaya’s Removal: Necessary and Proper

Guest post by Robert Romano

Yesterday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met privately with former president of Honduras, Manuel Zelaya. Afterward, she announced that the crisis in that nation would now be mediated by Costa Rican President Oscar Arias, saying,

“We hope at the end of this mediation there will be a return of democratic constitutional order that is agreed to by all concerned.”

It’s time to take off the gloves: Mrs. Clinton is lying. “[D]emocratic constitutional order” has in fact already been returned to Honduras, no thanks to her boss, Barack Obama. And then only because Manuel Zelaya was impeached and removed from office by the Honduran Congress, and his attempt at rewriting the nation’s Constitution halted by the Supreme Court.

Zelaya’s removal was in fact the only legal outcome that could occur under law. And it was also necessary in order to maintain the constitutional administration of government in Honduras. What happened?

As ALG News has previously reported, Zelaya was attempting to convene a constitutional convention that would have enabled him to rewrite portions of the Constitution that defined term limits for the office of President.

Zelaya was repeatedly warned—by his own constitutional experts, the Public Prosecutor General, the Attorney General, the presiding judge of the Administrative Law Court, the Office of the State Attorney, the Administrative Law Tribunal, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, the National Congress, and the National Commissioner for Human Rights—that his proposed referendum was unconstitutional, but he knowingly proceeded anyway with his unlawful plans.

In Honduras, the President is only allotted one term of office. And, it is unconstitutional for any public servant to even propose extending that term. While that may appear harsh, in Honduras the people have little use for would-be kings, or populist demagogues.

 

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Tax Cap Alert!

ATTENTION Franklin NH citizens: Tonight at 7PM when you attend the public hearing at the Franklin Opera House to give input on the council’s decision to override the cap, recall what happened a while back in Woonsocket, RI when that city’s council decided they needed to issue a "fifth quarter" tax assessment: The citizens of that fair … Read more

Cap and Trade ALERT: Call Your Senators NOW!

Get your U.S. Senators’ phone numbers or web contact forms by clicking here… Call them and leave a message!! Vote "NO" on Waxman/Markey Cap-and-Trade. This is the contact information for Jeanne Shaheen. She needs to hear from ALL of us- NOW! (202) 224-2841 Web Form: shaheen.senate.gov/contact/ Tell her that after finding out what this legislation will do to … Read more

Neda’s Fourth of July Message

Neda

Neda, the young and beautiful freedom-loving Iranian student was slain in cold-blood by the current Islamic regime in Iran. Almost instantly, Neda became, not only the divine call of the Iranian uprising, but, she symbolized the call for liberty around the globe. Here’s the video of Richard Roth’s report which contained the image of Neda.

If either President Ronald Reagan or President John F. Kennedy were alive today, they would stand in solidarity with the Iranian people. In fact, they would declare “Today we all are Iranians.” It appears the Iranian people are showing the world what a revolution looks like and some Americans have started paying close attention and taking notes.

Neda knew the value of freedom. She died for it. Her blood was not wasted and she did not die in vain. Headlines have heralded the young woman as a martyr and some even dubbed her Iran’s Joan of Arc. Not only has she become a “symbol of goodness” battling against her brutal oppressor, her story has laid open a much larger issue, freedom and liberty. There is a site dedicated to Neda proclaiming, “We are all Neda.”

Each year, on the fourth of July, we celebrate America’s birth and independence. This is a day that the heart of every American must glow with pride and appreciation. On this special occasion, the Iranian martyr, Neda, has a special message for all freedom-loving Americans: “Do not take your liberty for granted” “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure,” said Thomas Jefferson. I think Neda would have said, “I have given my blood for the cause of liberty for my country and I hope you don’t have to give yours once again.”

We are going through some troubled times in America. We Americans need to wake up and realize that our liberties and freedoms that we are taking for granted are slowly and inexorably being taken from us. Once we lose it, it is very hard to get it back. Let the blood of the Persian freedom-fighter, Neda, inspires all of us to cherish our liberty. “We are fighting and dying on the streets of Tehran to have what you have had for more than two centuries. You, America, have been an inspiration to millions of us in Iran to become free, free to roam, free to grow, and free to bloom” Neda would have said.

As we celebrate the 4th of July, it is my hope that all freedom-loving Americans remain mindful of how precious that day is to our country’s storied history. On July 4, 1776, America declared its independence from England, the old white grandfather across the sea.  The miracle of America happened, and its dynamic birth rapidly changed the entire world. Neda would have wished her blood would cause the Iranians to gain their freedom and our two countries once again become the staunchest friends.

 

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Fourth of July. Are we even worthy?

New national bird to replace Bald Eagle?

As we prepare to celebrate yet another Fourth of July, I cannot help but feel a bit melancholy as I review and contemplate the Declaration of Independence, and think about the birth of this “great experiment”, known as America. Have we reached the end of the line, as far as our belief in and adherence to the principles upon which this Nation was founded? When reading the beautiful and eloquent words as created and agreed to by the Founding Fathers, how can you not feel a sense of distance and unfamiliarity when comparing them against the realities we see today.

Consider what is unquestionably the most famous part of the Declaration:

“We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness…”

Are there any “self evident truths” and “unalienable rights” here in the new Age of Obama, or are these things just merely quaint, outdated ideas from a bygone era? Do these words somehow mean the “Creator” gives a woman the right to “terminate” pregnancies? As she exercises “choice,” what about the unborn child’s right to “life?” President Obama has famously declared that that he wouldn’t want his young daughters “punished” with a pregnancy. So much for the unalienable right to life for his grandchildren– Such a fine example set by our “dear leader.” What part of the Fourth does he honor?

In our supposed enlightened age, how many Americans even acknowledge some sort of “Creator,” anyway? While many claim to believe, they willingly turn a blind eye as the rights given us by the Creator are systematically stripped away—even to the point of a knowing chuckle or two at those who suggest that much of what our present government does is immoral. “What old-fashioned notions,” they say. “Don’t be so melodramatic.” One must conclude that if they actually believed in a God as a giver of rights to begin with, they would be more vehement in the defense of such. Think about that—why would a person go to the mat for something he or she doesn’t believe in?

Does “pursuing Happiness” give a person the right to the fruits of the labor of others? I suppose one could be happy with getting an extra “slice of the pie” that somebody else has paid for. But what if you happen to be the person that actually earned the “pie?” How happy will you be at the prospect of watching more and more of your just due taken and distributed to others? Is this not what’s happening on a grand scale all around America today? No matter where you look– whether it’s the federal, state, county, or local government—it’s all the same: all are poised to take an even greater share of the fruits of our labors through taxation. They say money can’t buy happiness, but it sure does help. No matter what consists of “happiness” for a person in 2009, the fact is, it’s going to cost more.

 

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Studying the NH Budget: “A Rising Tide of Taxes and Fees”

(Concord) According to a report released today by the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy, the legislature has so far passed 38 tax and fee increases costing $318 million. The number of tax and fee increases has risen dramatically in recent years from a low of nine increases in 2003-04. The report, "A Rising Tide … Read more

ATTENTION! Message of “change” ends up meaning what it always has: Government knows best

Fred Tausch

Guest post by Fred Tausch

“We must push to bring fiscal responsibility to Washington”

LIKE MOST Americans, I’ve always believed hard work, self-reliance and integrity are all you need to succeed in America. We don’t believe government owes us a living, just the opportunity to succeed or fail by our own initiative, hard work and talent.
 
We want a government that shares our convictions; that does its work, not ours, and does it competently; that manages its budget as responsibly as we manage our own budgets; a government that doesn’t play favorites or use our money to reward the failures of others; a government that earns our trust by trusting us and leveling with us about the cost and performance of its programs.

All we ever seem to get, though, is a government that increases its own prerogatives and power rather than the liberties and opportunities of the people it serves; a government with little accountability and less transparency; a government that tries to do things it was not intended to do and has no idea how to do. And many of the things it must do, it does not do well.

The Republican Party is the party of fiscal discipline, the party that trusted Americans to make their own decisions about how to use their money to build their dreams.  But, when Republican leaders lost their way, they lost me. I voted for George Bush in 2000 because I believed he would be a careful steward of our prosperity. Instead, he and Republicans in Congress turned a budget surplus into a huge deficit. They cut taxes but didn’t make the spending cuts necessary for the government to live within its means. They spent record sums on a bailout of the financial industry that I knew from the outset would be an expensive failure, without giving us any clear idea what the money could be used for and how it would be paid back.

Barack Obama promised to change that, and I hoped he would. He promised to put government on a budget that didn’t exceed its revenues, to be as careful with our money as we are and to take the best ideas from both parties and offer new solutions to the challenges of our time. But as soon as the applause at his inauguration subsided, he began to break his promises.

 

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What does SHE have to do with anything?

Other than being the newly crowned fashion queen, what does the President’s wife really have to do with anything in the life of an ordinary citizen? Elected to nothing, what business does the First Lady have with legislation and budget and economic issues? And what exactly does she know about such matters, anyway? While I … Read more

Debunking the myths surrounding NH’s new budget

Democrats chasing myths
Guest post by NH State Senator Jeb Bradley…

Supporters of the recently enacted State of New Hampshire budget were quick to claim that it was responsible and that they made tough decisions during difficult economic times. Talk about myth and spin – this budget fits the bill – literally!

Myth #1:  State spending will decrease in the next two years.  Sounds great doesn’t it? Unfortunately, this is flat out wrong. Here are the facts: According to the Legislative Budget Assistant–the non-partisan office that is charged with preparing budget figures–total authorized spending in the current budget, which will close June 30, is $10.408 billion. The budget that was just approved and will begin July 1 authorizes spending of $11.499 billion, an increase of $1.091 billion or 10.48% by every known method of mathematics! How can these budget supporters possibly justify this huge increase when people are struggling to pay their bills and now will struggle to pay the higher taxes and fees contained in the budget? This 10.48% increase also comes at a time when other states around the nation on average are actually reducing spending!

Myth #2: The new tax on campsites closes a loophole. If budget writers really thought this tax on camping was closing a loophole it is hard to imagine why they would have introduced it in the wee hours of the night without a public hearing. The fact is that it is a brand new 9% tax on camping. It is positively amazing how supporters of this budget claim to be the politicians that support the little guy.  This budget not only taxes camping, it hikes taxes or fees on meals, tobacco, boat & car registration, salt water fishing licenses and most importantly, property taxes. Nothing can hide the fact that New Hampshire citizens of modest means will be digging deeper into their already empty wallets.

 

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Guinta slams Shea-Porter on her vote for new energy taxes on NH citizens

D’uh. In a statement released today, Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta rightfully slams Carol Shea Porter for her vote on the Cap and Trade energy tax bill: Once again standing with Speaker Pelosi, not NH Hampshire residents:Carol Shea-Porter Votes for the Job Killing Waxman-Markey National Energy Tax Shea-Porter Casts Critical Vote that could Cost Constituents Millions … Read more

Boehner: National Energy Tax Punishes American Families

blinded

Democrats "studying" the bill…

Guest Post by Congressman John Boehner

If there’s one thing the American people should demand of their elected representatives, it’s that’s we should know what’s in bills before we vote on them.  Unfortunately, that seems to be too much to ask of the Democratic-controlled U.S. House, which under the heavy hand of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has once again rushed sweeping legislation to passage without appropriate scrutiny or sufficient time for public review.

In February, the U.S. House passed a 1,100-page economic “stimulus” bill that (according to the White House) was supposed to create 3.5 million jobs and keep unemployment no higher than 8 percent.  Since that bill was signed into law by President Obama, we’ve lost 1.6 million jobs nationwide, and unemployment nationwide is now 9.4 percent.  The so-called "stimulus" has been a disaster in my home state of Ohio, where our unemployment is a record-breaking 10.8 percent. 

The House late on Friday, June 26, passed Speaker Pelosi’s new national energy tax – a more than 1,500 page bill that included 300 pages added to it fewer than 24 hours in the dark of night before the final vote.  No one – not one single lawmaker – had read the entire bill before voting on it.  So I did what I had to do: using my privileges as Minority Leader, I took to the floor and read portions of those 300 pages to the American people before the final vote.  By tradition, the Speaker of the House, the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader have the right to talk for as long as they like on the Floor.  I used my prerogative as the Minority Leader to read to the American people parts of a bill that will raise their taxes, send American jobs overseas and punish hard-working, middle-class families with higher energy costs.

I had hoped that lawmakers would understand that this new national energy tax on middle class families would further punish people who are struggling to make ends meet.  At the very least, I and my colleagues believed the American people deserved a more open and honest debate over the contents of the bill and its implications for our country, which is still struggling through a deep recession.  But in the end, in another exercise of legislating by brute force, political muscle applied by Speaker Pelosi and former Vice President Al Gore on behalf of radical special-interests carried the day, and the measure was narrowly passed.

What took place in the House Friday is a stinging slap in the face for suffering American families and small businesses.  A backroom deal was struck between powerful Democratic politicians in Washington and powerful interests who got special "carve-outs" in the final bill to ensure the higher costs and higher taxes imposed by the Speaker’s bill will apply to ordinary citizens and small business owners, but not to them.  

Americans want clean energy, and a clean environment.  There is a better route to these goals than the one embodied in the bill passed on the floor of the House last night, and Republicans have offered it:

 

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On the Cap and Trade energy tax bill

This lady is quickly becoming one of our favorite members of the present US House… Minnesota Republican Representative Michele Bachmann on Waxman/Markey energy tax bill: "We know this will result in a reduced standard of living for Americans."  

Watch Cap & Trade TAX Debate LIVE. Boehner is ON A ROLL!

Rush hour in China. After Cap & Trade, they’ll be the ones driving the SUVs & selling their bicycles to us. Watch the US House debate live by clicking here. Watch C-Span even if you don’t have cable. Pretty cool. Too bad the subject has such a horrible possible outcome. Boehner: "All pain for the … Read more

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