I'm right again.com                  

An unincorporated division of the Anonymous Anything Society - October 1, 2013


The Partial Government Shutdown

     Yes, it's all about the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, hereafter and for all time to be known as Obamacare. If I have it correctly, prior to shutdown, the card offered by the Republican majority in the House of Representatives was a demand that the major parts of Obamacare be rescinded (or not funded) for a year. They argue that Obama has, by fiat, already delayed implementation of some sections of the legislation. The Senate Democrats see little reason for a further conference concerning a law that is an accomplished fact.

     All of this back and forth is going on despite the fact that some provisions of the law are already in effect. For example, dependents can remain on their parent's health plans until age 26.  New applicants for insurance can apply now.

     By January 1, 2014, most provisions will be in full force.  

     Let's have a show of hands: who among you readers believe that a delay of 12 months would bring about any change in the attitude of the Party of "No," now under the thrall of the "Tea Party," and their current leader, Senator Genghis Khan. 

     The bad news: To some, Obamacare will not be "affordable." Anytime government is involved in any human endeavor, it is bound to cost more than when private enterprise is solely responsible. It's due to all of the many paper shufflers who inevitably proliferate as the process gains a foothold. 

     Richardson's First Law of Politics will apply. When elected or appointed, an officeholder must demonstrate an excess of work as quickly as possible and request an assistant, or at least an executive secretary. Nothing can stop their immediate and interminable propagation. Government employees multiply exponentially - like fruit flies. 

     More bad news: If not enough of the uninsured do not subscribe and pay their share of the cost, more taxes will have to be imposed on viable taxpayers, most especially we scufflers in the crowd.

     The good news for hospitals: fewer of the 41-million Americans who didn't have health care and who nevertheless came to the doorsteps of hospital when critically ill, will have their bills paid.

    In our humble estimation, the best part of the law is no one can be denied coverage due to a pre-existing condition or kicked under the bus if a health problem arises later on. 

    Better news for most of us, especially we oldsters already with a contract with a Health Management Organization (HMO). We will be pleasantly surprised to find that very little will have changed, despite the barrage of anti - Obamacare propaganda we've suffered through for months. 

    My plan through my longtime HMO is going to cost me less next year.  

     My prediction: far fewer Republicans will be elected next time. Americans dislike bullies. How many among you remember Joseph McCarthy, Republican Senator from Wisconsin (1947-1957)?  If you are not already acquainted with him, you ought to Google the name and compare his shameful tactics to those be employed by the rising new stars of the Tea Party Pantheon. 

     The best news: Any bad law can be changed if it be the will of people. Despots are easily dethroned at the ballot box in truly democratic societies.

     From my long perspective, democracy works. It has not been long since women could not vote. When I was eligible to vote, many Black People could not. Nor could a student of a minority family expect to attend a desegregated school. I once thought that no minority person could be elected to public office, let alone be Mayor, or Governor, and certainly never President. When I was a child, it was illegal in the United States to make, sell or consume any alcoholic beverage. How droll!

      Despite the pithy comments found herein, I have faith in the electorate. It just seems to take an eternity for people in a democracy to finally get it right. Dictators don't have that problem. Neither do they tend to enjoy longevity. Sometimes, not even a quiet retirement. 

     Now to a different issue. Every few months, I get an eMail urging me to sign a petition to add a provision to the U.S. Constitution guaranteeing that any law applicable to a U.S. Citizen shall equally apply to all Representatives to the Federal Congress and U.S. Senators. I've probably added my name to the petition list four or five times. Why do you suppose it is that this most reasonable and equitable issue has not been brought before the citizens of the various United States by its elected representatives?


     When I published last week's diatribe about Global Warming (See the Archives Link below), I received an underwhelming response (one eMail came pouring in) and the number of visitors who normally send my commentary on to others, as well as my hit-count of visitors during any week, declined precipitously. There was a huge concerted shrug from readers. I'm sorry. I'll not bring that up again.

      Cross my heart, I had no idea before i composed the piece that a grand conclave on Global Warming was about to be held in Sweden. (Thank you D.W. for nevertheless saying, "You were right again, dot com."). I had been yearning to work it in an essay for a long time, despite my never going to experience the full ramifications of most every government, including ours, of doing little or nothing to address the problem. I had been waiting for a chance to fulminate - to no avail. Again. 

-Phil Richardson Observer and Storyteller.

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, wi