Star Trek

I'm not sure how I feel about the new movie. It's a good sci-fi movie to be sure. But I'm not sure it's good Star Trek.

They rewrote Kirk's history, and a very important part of the Star Trek present/future. They wrote in a certain romance that was never even implied in any series. And Nero was not a compelling villain, though that's the least of the problems with the film.

Despite this, it was a fun movie. Great acting, lots of humor, lots of action, very intelligent. It's almost like I watched a great sci-fi movie that just happened to borrow the names of the original series crew.

Here's hoping someday soon J.J. Abrams finishes watching Firefly, calls up Joss Whedon and says "Hey, did you hear I rebooted Star Trek?"

Star Wars

My brother was home from school and work yesterday, so we watched Star Wars:Revenge Of The Sith.

How do you assemble a cast that includes Ewan McGregor, Sam Jackson, and Natalie Portman, and then end up with the Special Olympics of bad acting. It's terrible, absolutely painful to watch. Nevermind that the dialogue is so amazingly bad it seems like it was written for the Power Rangers. Everything is "More power!" this and "dark side!" that. Every third line, I swear. The only thing they didn't do was name their lightsabers and shout out the color when they drew them.

And now I watch A New Hope, and it's nearly as bad.

I respect Star Wars as important cinema landmarks, but how on earth did it achieve that status?

Facepalm

Saw an example last night of the behavior that is destroying this country.

Guy (30-40s) comes into our store, he's ordered a movie. He asks me to hold it for longer than the regular 2 weeks. Seems his unemployment claims are being investigated, and he won't have the cash to buy the movie for a couple of weeks. He'd have the cash now, but he just borrowed $168 dollars from his dad to pay for his cellphone bill (he had a RAZR, I have no idea how in the HELL you rack up $168 on one of those, I used to sell them).

While he's in our store, he orders another $27 movie.

You're in debt, you don't have a job. What do you do? Don't cancel your cellphone, cut your spending and look for a job. No, borrow to pay off your superfluous technology, buy crap you don't need, and bitch about the taxpayers not coughing up your government cheese fast enough.

If you don't have a bad attitude right now, you're not paying attention.

Fast And Furious

Someday, movie reviewers will look back and say that the Fast And Furious movies were too our generation what Don Johnson's Miami Vice was to the last: Good, dumb entertainment. Beautiful women, fast cars, explosions, gun play, and a pointless plot to tie it all together.

Vin Diesel, unfortunately, is not the unknown he was in the original movie. He doesn't play Dominic Toretto in FAF, he plays Vin Diesel in FAF. He was the shining star of the classic TFATF, and he just can't pull it off in the new one. He's still good, but he's not his character.

It's worth watching, just for that dumb, over-the-top fun factor.

Watchmen

Good movie. Not great, but good. The characters are all quite unlikeable in some way, even the greatest anti-hero of all, the finger-breaking Rorschach.

Good comic book adaptation too. Sometimes they duplicate panels out of the book, which is an impressive feat.

And no, the blue nudity does not ruin the movie.

Shooty Goodness

Twice now out to the range, this Thursday and last.

Last week I took a friend, Paul Nelson, Jim Doyle, and my built battle rifle. The battle rifle did a decent job at 50 yards (which is the only distance I'm shooting rifles at now). At 15 yards, my friend and Paul Nelson kept all the rounds on a sheet of printer paper, and I chewed the left center out of another sheet with the USPc9.

This week was just .22s and 12ga. Another friend chewed the center out of the target at 50 yards with the bolt action .22, while I kicked up a LOT of dust and made few holes with an ancient Marlin semi-auto.

A Browning Buckmark was our only pistol and once we figured out how the sights were regulated, we were shooting quarter sized groups at 15 yards.

Then we just went out and blasted with the 12ga.

Lots of fun. My friends are getting more and more serious about owning firearms too.

More Much Needed Humor

The old priest lay dying in the hospital. For years he had faithfully served the people of the nation's capital. He motioned for his nurse to come near.

"Yes, Father?" said the nurse. "I would really like to see Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi before I die", whispered the priest. "I'll see what I can do, Father" replied the nurse.

The nurse sent the request to them and waited for a response. Soon the word arrived. Harry and Nancy would be delighted to visit the priest. As they went to the hospital, Harry commented to Nancy "I don't know why the old priest wants to see us, but it will certainly help our images." Nancy couldn't help but agree.

When they arrived at the priest's room, the priest took Nancy's hand in his right hand and Harry's hand in his left. There was silence and a look of serenity on the old priest's face.

Finally Nancy spoke. "Father, of all the people you could have chosen, why did you choose us to be with you as you near the end?"

The old priest slowly replied, "I have always tried to pattern my life after my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

The old priest continued...

"He died between two lying thieves. I would like to do the same."

Some Much Needed Humor

A cowboy named Bud was overseeing his herd in a remote mountainous pasture in California when suddenly a brand-new BMW advanced out of a dust cloud towards him.

The driver, a young man in a Brioni suit, Gucci shoes, RayBan sunglasses and YSL tie, leans out the window and asks the cowboy, 'If I tell you exactly how many cows and calves you have in your herd, Will you give me a calf?'

Bud looks a t the man, obviously a yuppie, then looks at his peacefully grazing herd and calmly answers, 'Sure, Why not?'

The yuppie parks his car, whips out his Dell notebook computer, connects it to his Cingular RAZR V3 cell phone, and surfs to a NASA page on the Internet, where he calls up a GPS satellite to get an exact fix on his location which he then feeds to another NASA satellite that scans the area in an ultra-high-resolution photo.

The young man then opens the digital photo in Adobe Photoshop and exports it to an image processing facility in Hamburg , Germany

Within seconds, he receives an email on his Palm Pilot that the image has been processed and the data stored. He then accesses an MS-SQL database through an ODBC connected Excel spreadsheet with email on his Blackberry and, after a few minutes, receives a response.

Finally, he prints out a full-color, 150-page report on his hi-tech, miniaturized HP LaserJet printer and finally turns to the cowboy and says, 'You have exactly 1,586 cows and calves.'

'That's right. Well, I guess you can take one of my calves,' says Bud.

He watches the young man select one of the animals and looks on amused as the young man stuffs it into the trunk of his car.

Then the Bud says to the young man, 'Hey, if I can tell you exactly what your business is, will you give me back my calf?'

The young man thinks about it for a second and then says, 'Okay, why not?'

'You're a Congressman for the U.S. Government', says Bud.

'Wow! That's correct,' says the yuppie, 'but how did you guess that?'

'No guessing required.' answered the cowboy. 'You showed up here even though nobody called you; you want to get paid for an answer I already knew, to a question I never asked. You tried to show me how much smarter than me you are; and you don't know a thing about cows...this is a

herd of sheep. ..


Now give me back my dog."

More Camel In The Tent

http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2009/04/01/235493/us-to-enforce-cyber-security-in-private-companies.htm

The US government could gain powers to enforce cyber-security standards in private companies for the first time under new laws designed to dramatically step-up the US cyber-defences.

Legislation expected to be introduced in the US Senate today will extend the US government's cyber-security programme from military networks to private systems used to control critical infrastructure such as electricity and water, The Washington Post reports.

The legislation calls for the appointment of a White House cyber-security "czar" with the authority to shut down both government and private computer networks during a cyber-attack, according to officials interviewed by the paper.

The news comes following disclosures of the extent of cyber-espionage activities of Chinese hackers against western governments.

Research by a Canadian security group has revealed that the Chinese operation, dubbed GhostNet, infiltrated more than 1,000 computers in more than 100 countries.

US Intelligence officials have warned that a major attack on private computer networks could compromise systems used by banks, utilities and transport networks, causing social and economic panic.

The US has begun a 60 day review of its defences against cyber-attacks.
---------------------------------------
What is scarier? Chinese viruses running amok in our computers, or government officials running amok with the power to commandeer computer networks?

I'd like to know if private networks include the networks of private citizens. Also, for how long are they going to be authorized to shut down the networks, and what exactly constitutes such an emergency that they'd be authorized to do this.

Maybe my tinfoil's just a little too tight today, but the idea of the government shutting down the "backbone" because of imminent rumblings of revolution seems like a likely possibility down the road.

HR 1388 The Give Act

Passed in both House and Senate. Sent all my representatives a letter prior, telling them not to vote for it. Sent them a nastygram afterwards telling them they'd just betrayed their country - because they just voted to restart slavery. Also written into the bill is a provision prohibiting groups, companies, and organizations from protesting the bill and mandatory volunteerism, a direct violation of our rights listed in the First Amendment.

My promise is the same as it has always been. I was born free, I've lived as free as possible, I'll die free. Any attempt to interfere in that perfectly natural chain of events will be met by increasing levels of force.

Meanwhile, everyone's torqued off because AIG execs got the bonuses they were promised by the Obama administration - after which those bonuses were taxed at 90%. To those folks who don't know, that's called a bill of attainder - i.e. any bill that specifically targets one group of people. This is specifically prohibited by the Constitution. Like, actually listed "no bills of attainder."

Now comes word that the head of GM has stepped down at Obama's request. We'll see if he tries to "appoint" a new CEO - whether by executive fiat or by strong "suggestion."

This country is irredeemably broken. Congress just crapped all over the "no involuntary servitude" amendment (one you'd think a black president would know something about), and our right to protest. And they kept us distracted from this with a bread-and-circuses routine that further destroys the free market.

If you don't have your mags loaded already, put down the Doritos and go load some between American Idol commercials.

Seether - Careless Whispers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7imqO-OBVk

Hie thee hence and listen. Now.

H.R. 1388 "Give Act"

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.1388:

My concerns are many with this Bill.
What gives the Government the right to require individuals to give 3 years service under the guise of “volunteer” service? It is not explicit exactly who is required but I think they get the Bill passed and then iron out the details.

It talks about uniforms and “camps.” They revise the word “camps” and call it “campus.” There is language about Seniors and Community organizations.

Some language in the Bill is particularly disturbing like:

- “leverage Federal investments to increase State, local, business, and philanthropic resources to address national and local challenges;

- encourage national service efforts to address pressing national challenges, such as improving education for low-income students, increasing energy conservation, and improving the health, well-being, and economic opportunities of the neediest individuals in the Nation;

-expand and strengthen service-learning programs through year-round opportunities, including during the summer months, to improve the education of children and youth and to maximize the benefits of national and community service, in order to renew the ethic of civic responsibility and the spirit of community to children and youth throughout the United States;

- increase service opportunities for our Nation's retiring professionals

-encourage members of the Baby Boom generation to partake in service opportunities

- Civilian Community Corps shall be called the "National Civilian Community Corps"

-the Director determines appropriate "Uniforms"

Why does the Government have to create Laws to make people Volunteer? The Government should NOT legislate Volunteerism.

-How much money will this National program cost?

And scariest of all:

From the Misc. section, #6104: (6) Whether a workable, fair, and reasonable mandatory service requirement for all able young people could be developed, and how such a requirement could be implemented in a manner that would strengthen the social fabric of the Nation and overcome civic challenges by bringing together people from diverse economic, ethnic, and educational

backgrounds.

I'm watching this nation commit suicide, 25 traitors just opened another box of razorblades. We'll watch this one very closely.

Meanwhile, Robert DeNiro responds to evil in the appropriate manner:

H.R 875 More Camel In The Tent

HR 875: The Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009 creates a new .gov agency in addition to the FDA to control food production. Bill was introduced by the wife of a Monsanto lobbyist. Vaguely written and possibly far reaching into our own backyards.

http://www.opednews.com/articles/Monsanto-s-dream-bill-HR-by-Linn-Cohen-Cole-090309-337.html

One Down, Too Many To Go

2 of my coworkers caught a thief this afternoon. Funny, the store will kick people out for stealing, but not for harassing (the legal definition, not annoying) the staff.

Oh well. A stupid punk got a free ride in a police car, probably won't be doing that again. And that is cause for celebration!

Shooty Goodness

Went to the range last week with a coworker. Took along a 1911, Jim Doyle 9mm, a 12gauage, and one of my battle rifles.

Start out with the battle rifle at 50 yards. Crappy irons and only shooting offhand contributed to mediocre accuracy ranging from lethal to painful to "keep your head down."

Next up was the 1911. I love this pistol. My coworker shot better with it that its owner, or any other person with any other firearm that I've ever seen. 45 feet, 7 in the 9ring, 9 through the same ragged hole in the center circle.

Then comes the Jim Doyle 9mm. Mediocre accuracy. Predictably right of target. Back sights look off, need adjusting. Eats crappy Wolf practice ammo though. That pistol will digest anything. I'm hoping to shoot my concealed carry quals for Minnesota next month, and if I don't get the sights straightened out, I'm going to have to shoot it with my Sig 220. That would not be cool.

After that we just ran the 12gauge through some dumb stuff. Stock folded, aiming at snow piles on the berm. Fun times.

Then we went back to the pistol range with a box of 50 9mm's, and started doing reload and malfunction drills with the USP. Load 3 rounds in the mag, 2 in the spare, with another empty case somewhere in the stack. Or the empty case in the first mag. Shoot to slide-lock, reload, shoot to the preplanted dud, and then taprackbang until you can shoot again. Best hour I've ever spent shooting.

My friend says he's getting a 1911 when he gets back from Japan in August. I hope he still can.

Kinda Scary

So Eric Holder opened his fat yap about the Obama administration banning AR15s to save Mexico from its own self about a week ago.

Two days later, Walmart nearest me has been bought out of all, and I do mean ALL, militarily useful calibers, and then a few that aren't. Normally they keep about 2000rds of 9mm, 1500 .40S&W, 1000 .45ACP, on hand. All gone. Not a single box remaining. Someone or a lot of someones also bought out about 1000rds of .38, 500 .357Mag, 1000 .380Auto, 400 .44Mag, and about 350 .357SIG. Not to mention an ungodly amount of .308 and .223.

My hand to God, it was not me.

Bulk food, dried food, medical supplies, and all manner of firearms are flying off the shelves, and from what I'm hearing online, they're flying off the shelves everywhere, not just my little burg.

Last time I was in Sportsmans Warehouse, they were sold out of every large frame, high capacity handgun they'd ever carried. All the 1911s were still there, but there was not a single Sig, HK, XD, or Glock in 9mm or .40S&W to be had. Bushmaster and Armalite are backordered a year in AR15s.

Weird, ain't it? Country elects the leftest most candidate we've seen in years, but still someone who says they'll bring the nation together, and then the nation en masse goes out and prepares for war. It's not just people on the right buying ARs, AKs, Berettas and Glocks. Its everyone. And in uncertain economic times, they are going out of their way to spend thousands of dollars on the most effective tools for killing people that they can lay their hands on, and the ammunition to run them, and the food and supplies necessary to survive.

Sic vis pacem para bellum

It's not just me who believes it these days.

Bruce Springsteen - The Wrestler

Have you ever seen a one-trick pony
In the field so happy and free
If you ever seen a one-trick pony then you've seen me
Have you ever seen a one-legged dog
Making his way down the street
If you ever seen a one-legged dog then you've seen me

Then you've seen me
I come and stand at every door
Then you've seen me
I always leave with less than I had before
Then you've seen me
Bet I can make you smile when the blood it hits the floor
Tell me friend, can you ask for anything more
Tell me can you ask for anything more

Have you ever seen a scarecrow
Filled with nothing but dust and wheat
If you ever seen that scarecrow then you've seen me
Have you ever seen a one-armed man
Punching at nothing but the breeze
If you ever seen a one-armed man then you've seen me

Then you've seen me
I come and stand at every door
Then you've seen me
I always leave with less than I had before
Then you've seen me
Bet I can make you smile when the blood it hits the floor
Tell me friend, can you ask for anything more
Tell me can you ask for anything more

These things that have comforted me I drive away
This place that was my home I cannot stay
My only faith's in the broken bones and bruises I display

Have you ever seen a one-legged man
Trying to dance his way free
If you ever seen a one-legged man then you've seen me
--------------------------------------
Simple but effective ballad that speaks to a feeling of weariness. I haven't seen the movie, but apparently it's about an aging wrestler who's a failure everywhere but the ring.

I'm not normally a fan of Bruce Springsteen, but I'm really digging this new album.

Reflection

Went driving this night, like I try to every night. Passed homes glowing yellow inside, families watching TV, people moving back and forth. Flashes of each home, each one so like the next, but each filled with individuals, completely unique in all of existence.

God help me, but I want something similar. Responsibility tugs at me because of my age.

To All My Valued Employees

To All My Valued Employees,

There have been some rumblings around the office about the future of this company, and more specifically, your job. As you know, the economy has changed for the worse and presents many challenges. However, the good news is this: The economy doesn't pose a threat to your job. What does threaten your job however, is the changing political landscape in this country.

However, let me tell you some little tidbits of fact which might help you decide what is in your best interests.

First, while it is easy to spew rhetoric that casts employers against employees, you have to understand that for every business owner there is a Back Story. This back story is often neglected and overshadowed by what you see and hear. Sure, you see me park my Mercedes outside. You've seen my big home at last yearʼs Christmas party. I'm sure; all these flashy icons of luxury conjure up some idealized thoughts about my life.

However, what you don't see is the BACK STORY:

I started this company 28 years ago. At that time, I lived in a 300 square foot studio apartment for 3 years. My entire living apartment was converted into an office so I could put forth 100% effort into building a company, which by the way, would eventually employ you.

My diet consisted of Ramen Pride noodles because every dollar I spent went back into this company. I drove a rusty Toyota Corolla with a defective transmission. I didn't have time to date. Often times, I stayed home on weekends, while my friends went out drinking and partying. In fact, I was married to my business -- hard work, discipline, and sacrifice.

Meanwhile, my friends got jobs. They worked 40 hours a week and made a modest $50K a year and spent every dime they earned. They drove flashy cars and lived in expensive homes and wore fancy designer clothes. Instead of hitting the Nordstrom's for the latest hot fashion item, I was trolling through the discount store extracting any clothing item that didn't look like it was birthed in the 70's. My friends refinanced their mortgages and lived a life of luxury. I, however, did not. I put my time, my money, and my life into a business with a vision that eventually, some day, I too, will be able to afford these luxuries my friends supposedly had.

So, while you physically arrive at the office at 9am, mentally check in at about noon, and then leave at 5pm, I don't. There is no "off" button for me. When you leave the office, you are done and you have a weekend all to yourself. I unfortunately do not have the freedom. I eat, and breathe this company every minute of the day. There is no rest. There is no weekend. There is no happy hour. Every day this business is attached to my hip like a 1 year old special-needs child. You, of course, only see the fruits of that garden -- the nice house, the Mercedes, the vacations . . .
you never realize the Back Story and the sacrifices I've made.

Now, the economy is falling apart and I, the guy that made all the right decisions and saved his money, have to bail-out all the people who didn't. The people that overspent their paychecks suddenly feel entitled to the same luxuries that I earned and sacrificed a decade of my life for. Yes, business ownership has is benefits but the price I've paid is steep and not without wounds.

Unfortunately, the cost of running this business, and employing you, is starting to eclipse the threshold of marginal benefit and let me tell you why:

I am being taxed to death and the government thinks I don't pay enough. I have state taxes. Federal taxes. Property taxes. Sales and use taxes. Payroll taxes. Workers compensation taxes. Unemployment taxes. Taxes on taxes. I have to hire a tax man to manage all these taxes and then guess what? I have to pay taxes for employing him. Government mandates and regulations and all the accounting that goes with it, now occupy most of my time. On Oct 15th, I wrote a check to the US Treasury for $288,000 for quarterly taxes. You know what my "stimulus" check was? Zero.. Nada. Zilch.

The question I have is this: Who is stimulating the economy? Me, the guy who has provided 14 people good paying jobs and serves over 2,200,000 people per year with a flourishing business? Or, the single mother sitting at home pregnant with her fourth child waiting for her next welfare check? Obviously, government feels the latter is the economic stimulus of this country.

The fact is, if I deducted (Read: Stole) 50% of your paycheck you'd quit and you wouldn't work here. I mean, why should you? That's nuts. Who wants to get rewarded only 50% of their hard work? Well, I agree which is why your job is in jeopardy.

Here is what many of you don't understand ... to stimulate the economy you need to stimulate what runs the economy. Had suddenly government mandated to me that I didn't need to pay taxes, guess what? Instead of depositing that $288,000 into the Washington black-hole, I would have spent it, hired more employees, and generated substantial economic growth. My employees would have enjoyed the wealth of that tax cut in the form of promotions and better salaries. But you can forget it now.

When you have a comatose man on the verge of death, you don't defibrillate and shock his thumb thinking that will bring him back to life, do you? Or, do you defibrillate his heart? Business is at the heart of America and always has been. To restart it, you must stimulate it, not kill it. Suddenly, the power brokers in Washington believe the poor of America are the essential drivers of the American economic engine. Nothing could be further from the truth and this is the type of change you can keep.

So where am I going with all this?

It's quite simple.

If any new taxes are levied on me, or my company, my reaction will be swift and simple. I'll fire you. I'll fire your co-workers. You can then plead with the government to pay for your mortgage, your SUV, and your child's future. Frankly, it isn't my problem any more.

Then, I will close this company down, move to another country, and retire. You see, I'm done. I'm done with a country that penalizes the productive and gives to the unproductive. My motivation to work and to provide jobs will be destroyed, and with it, will be my citizenship.

So, if you lose your job, it won't be at the hands of the economy; it will be at the hands of a political hurricane that swept through this country, steamrolled the constitution, and will have changed its landscape forever. If that happens, you can find me sitting on a beach, retired, and with no employees to worry about....

Signed, THE BOSS
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Probably shows up on Snopes as not having been written by anyone at all, but it's terrific nonetheless, and describes, to a T, what's going on in this country. God help us.

Turns Out The Stimulus Bill Is Far More Than Unconstitutional Deficit Spending And Counterfeiting

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aLzfDxfbwhzs

Ruin Your Health With the Obama Stimulus Plan: Betsy McCaughey
Email | Print | A A A

Commentary by Betsy McCaughey

Feb. 9 (Bloomberg) -- Republican Senators are questioning whether President Barack Obama’s stimulus bill contains the right mix of tax breaks and cash infusions to jump-start the economy.

Tragically, no one from either party is objecting to the health provisions slipped in without discussion. These provisions reflect the handiwork of Tom Daschle, until recently the nominee to head the Health and Human Services Department.

Senators should read these provisions and vote against them because they are dangerous to your health. (Page numbers refer to H.R. 1 EH, pdf version).

The bill’s health rules will affect “every individual in the United States” (445, 454, 479). Your medical treatments will be tracked electronically by a federal system. Having electronic medical records at your fingertips, easily transferred to a hospital, is beneficial. It will help avoid duplicate tests and errors.

But the bill goes further. One new bureaucracy, the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology, will monitor treatments to make sure your doctor is doing what the federal government deems appropriate and cost effective. The goal is to reduce costs and “guide” your doctor’s decisions (442, 446). These provisions in the stimulus bill are virtually identical to what Daschle prescribed in his 2008 book, “Critical: What We Can Do About the Health-Care Crisis.” According to Daschle, doctors have to give up autonomy and “learn to operate less like solo practitioners.”

Keeping doctors informed of the newest medical findings is important, but enforcing uniformity goes too far.

New Penalties

Hospitals and doctors that are not “meaningful users” of the new system will face penalties. “Meaningful user” isn’t defined in the bill. That will be left to the HHS secretary, who will be empowered to impose “more stringent measures of meaningful use over time” (511, 518, 540-541)

What penalties will deter your doctor from going beyond the electronically delivered protocols when your condition is atypical or you need an experimental treatment? The vagueness is intentional. In his book, Daschle proposed an appointed body with vast powers to make the “tough” decisions elected politicians won’t make.

The stimulus bill does that, and calls it the Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research (190-192). The goal, Daschle’s book explained, is to slow the development and use of new medications and technologies because they are driving up costs. He praises Europeans for being more willing to accept “hopeless diagnoses” and “forgo experimental treatments,” and he chastises Americans for expecting too much from the health-care system.

Elderly Hardest Hit

Daschle says health-care reform “will not be pain free.” Seniors should be more accepting of the conditions that come with age instead of treating them. That means the elderly will bear the brunt.

Medicare now pays for treatments deemed safe and effective. The stimulus bill would change that and apply a cost- effectiveness standard set by the Federal Council (464).

The Federal Council is modeled after a U.K. board discussed in Daschle’s book. This board approves or rejects treatments using a formula that divides the cost of the treatment by the number of years the patient is likely to benefit. Treatments for younger patients are more often approved than treatments for diseases that affect the elderly, such as osteoporosis.

In 2006, a U.K. health board decreed that elderly patients with macular degeneration had to wait until they went blind in one eye before they could get a costly new drug to save the other eye. It took almost three years of public protests before the board reversed its decision.

Hidden Provisions

If the Obama administration’s economic stimulus bill passes the Senate in its current form, seniors in the U.S. will face similar rationing. Defenders of the system say that individuals benefit in younger years and sacrifice later.

The stimulus bill will affect every part of health care, from medical and nursing education, to how patients are treated and how much hospitals get paid. The bill allocates more funding for this bureaucracy than for the Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force combined (90-92, 174-177, 181).

Hiding health legislation in a stimulus bill is intentional. Daschle supported the Clinton administration’s health-care overhaul in 1994, and attributed its failure to debate and delay. A year ago, Daschle wrote that the next president should act quickly before critics mount an opposition. “If that means attaching a health-care plan to the federal budget, so be it,” he said. “The issue is too important to be stalled by Senate protocol.”

More Scrutiny Needed

On Friday, President Obama called it “inexcusable and irresponsible” for senators to delay passing the stimulus bill. In truth, this bill needs more scrutiny.

The health-care industry is the largest employer in the U.S. It produces almost 17 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product. Yet the bill treats health care the way European governments do: as a cost problem instead of a growth industry. Imagine limiting growth and innovation in the electronics or auto industry during this downturn. This stimulus is dangerous to your health and the economy.

(Betsy McCaughey is former lieutenant governor of New York and is an adjunct senior fellow at the Hudson Institute. The opinions expressed are her own.)

To contact the writer of this column: Betsy McCaughey at Betsymross@aol.com

Last Updated: February 9, 2009 00:01 EST
----------------------------------------
And this is with just 20 days in office under his belt. I dread to think what we'll be hearing about in 2 YEARS.

FWIW, I wrote both the SOBs who claim to represent me in the Senate.