NY Property Taxes

I just read an article lamenting the fact that 25% of NY property is exempt from taxes.  This is due, to a large extent, to properties such as universities, churches, government buildings, etc.  In some counties (e.g. Tomkins County) the tax exempt percentage is as much as 40%.  To this, the Tompkins County Administrator states: "You do try to pay 100% of your bills with 60% of the tax base."

HANG ON A MINUTE!!!!  These tax exemptions are not new!!  You, the government, decided to grant the tax exemptions in order to encourage whatever "business" you granted them to.  You should have based your BUDGET (and therefore your bills) an the tax base of ACTUAL non-exempt property.  Don't blame high property taxes on tax exemptions that YOU agreed to.  You are trying to pay 100% of the bills with 100% of the tax base you knew you had.

GOP takes a hit in CNN Poll; Do they care??

A recent CNN poll showed that the majority of Americans blame Republicans for the Government shutdown and the loss of billions of dollars to the US economy.  But do they care?

The hard line conservative Republicans come largely from congressional districts that are so carefully gerrymandered that it doesn't matter what the general population thinks.  These guys are going to get re-elected no matter what.

Isn't it time to get rid of the gerrymandering process and have an independent agency define congressional districts based on population and geometry rather than politics?

President: "Sign up; it will save you money"

During a speech in the Rose Garden today, President Obama expressed his frustration regarding the problems with the healthcare.gov website developed to allow people to sign up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act.

While President Obama acknowledged that the website was experiencing problems at the moment, he encouraged us to be patient and consider other means to enroll; e.g. by phone or in person.  The main thing, he said, was to sign up, IT WILL SAVE YOU MONEY.

The President obviously doesn't understand how insurance works.  EVERYONE can't save money. Everyone pays premiums and claims get paid to those who are sick.  For the sick, it saves money IF and only IF their illness results in expenses that are greater than the premiums they paid.  The un-sick never save money.

Money = Free Speech

I'm not sure exactly when spending money became an expression of free speech.  The Citizens United case was the first time I remember and now the Supreme Court is considering removing limits on individual campaign contributions as well.

Could you not make a case that paying a prostitute is an expression of free speech and therefore laws against prostitution are unconstitutional?

Obamacare

One of the big advantages of the Affordable Care Act is that previously uninsured people will now be able to afford coverage.  One big benefit is that conditions can be treated in the early stages instead of after they get out of hand.  Let's think about this a little.

I don't have any health insurance and I'm not feeling very well.  Something's just not right.  A doctor visit costs $100  and I just can't afford to go.  I put it off for a month.... maybe 2.... maybe a year.  The next thing I know, I've had a heart attack when I could have started taking a statin a year ago and avoided the whole thing.

Along comes the Affordable Care Act to save the day.  Because I don't have much income, I qualify for a subsidy, which means I can get coverage for $60/month.  It won't be easy, but I"ll find a way to pay for it.  Now, here we go again... I'm not feeling well, I really should go to the doctor.  But guess what.  My $60/month Bronze plan has a $3000 deductible.  It still costs me $100 to go to the doctor and not only couldn't I afford it before, now certainly can't afford it with a $60/month insurance payment.  I still don't go to the doctor and I still have a heart attack.  The difference now is that I have insurance to cover part (maybe only 50%) of the hospital bill.  Seems like I'm just as sick and just as bankrupt either way.

I don't see how the "early stage detection" outcome is going to be achieved.  Perhaps some will be discovered during a covered yearly physical exam, but from my experience: a) other than the routine blood work, there really isn't much depth to an annual physical exam, and b) if something is discovered, any likely required follow up is NOT covered until the deductible is reached. I couldn't afford $100 for a doctor visit, how am I going to afford $200 to see a specialist?