Trump II

[JoeKitchen]

Sorry Joe you picked a bad example here.  The leadership of the USPS has advocated a number of changes that would make it more fiscally responsible.  Congress keeps vetoing the suggestions.  They are not permitted to account for pension obligations in the same manner that US businesses do and this ends up showing as a big deficit on the ledger when it really is not.  They have to pre-fund the pension system way in excess of what is actuarially needed.  They have advocated cutting back delivery from the current six days a week and that's a no go as well.  Congress privatized the postal service years ago but won't let it operate like a private company.

I remember a few years ago, a new automated center was going to be built, but every congressman who would have had jobs lost in his/her district whined to the high heavens, and it got killed.  I'll admit both Ds and Rs whined, but if we had a smaller government, it would lead to less whining from the Rs, at least. 

Liberals also whined over and over again when recently the USPS signed a partnership with Staples, allowing Staples to collect mail and sell stamps, because that would also kill jobs.  I even remember seeing protesters outside my local Staples over it.  (Of course, this partnership certainly helps Staples, but that is what partnerships are about, helping each other.) 

The very fact that the USPS can not operate like a private business (while being privatized) and needs to run its pension program the way it has to is big government liberal ideology. 

They are not looking to the future and remaining competitive.  It seems so many liberals wold rather see the whole USPS fail then to allow them to make the necessary changes to keep it afloat just to prove a point.  Reminds me of recent Union battles where compromises were offered but turned down, only resulting in the company moving with all jobs lost. 

Cutting off your nose off to spit your face is a ridiculous habit. 

[JoeKitchen]

While some people have to read about recent history on Wikipedia (of all "reliable" sources), I've been living it. I left a crippling socialism only to end up in a creeping one here.

About a year ago, I had a conversation with another photographer who emigrated here from Venezuela, before all hell broke loose.  He saw the writing on the wall, Socialism does not work. 

The more and more Socialistic a society becomes, the more cronyism becomes part of the society. 

I really wish I saved the study, but I remember reading about 4 or 5 years ago a research paper that looked at how easy was it to create wealth based on how capitalist or socialistic the country was.  It found that in the most capitalistic societies, creating wealth was equal and very possible, regardless of how you started in life.  In the most socialistic society, only those who had connections to the government ever created wealth, the rest lived in poverty. 

[Alan Klein]

About a year ago, I had a conversation with another photographer who emigrated here from Venezuela, before all hell broke loose.  He saw the writing on the wall, Socialism does not work. 

The more and more Socialistic a society becomes, the more cronyism becomes part of the society. 

I really wish I saved the study, but I remember reading about 4 or 5 years ago a research paper the looked at how easy was it to create wealth based on how capitalist or socialistic the country was.  It found that in the most capitalistic societies, creating wealth was equal and very possible, regardless of how you started in life.  In the most socialistic society, only those who had connections to the government ever created wealth. 

+1  And large government combined with too-close business creates crony capitalism, a soft form of socialism.  Only the elites in politics and business get the goodies while the rest have to struggle.  It's all part of what Trump calls the "swamp" that needs to be drained if we are to get back to real capitalism and free markets.

[JoeKitchen]

It became a place where politicians gave jobs to their supporters and where no one really cared about making a profit.  How anyone could lose money in gambling where there's no risk boggles the mind.  But we did it in NY.  We should have left it with the Mafia and just taken a percent off the top.

This is what happens whenever something is taken over by the government.  People who should have no right to run something suddenly become in charge, and regardless of how piss poor they do, so long as the politician who got them the job remains in power, they are never fired.

The next best thing to being immortal is working for the government. 

On top of that, if you're the only game in town, why bother providing great service?  There's no reason to because people cant go somewhere else. 

Once again, look at the USPS, or the DMV, does any one actually enjoy going to those locations?  Is this really what we want to turn our healthcare into, an extension of the DMV? 

[Otto Phocus]

Ah well, he can hardly be blamed for a Republican health plan alternative that they have been working on for 7 (?) years. What's hard to understand for me, is why it has to be totally replaced and it seemingly is impossible to improve a plan that is not perfect.

I think it is pretty straightforward.  The GOP is not interested in fixing the ACA because that would make the ACA a success.  The ACA is linked to the Democratic party and Obama specifically.  If the ACA is fixed than an Obama plan would be a success and that just can't be allowed.

I seriously doubt the GOP thought process goes much deeper than that.

[Alan Goldhammer]

The very fact that the USPS can not operate like a private business (while being privatized) and needs to run its pension program the way it has to is big government liberal ideology. 

They are not looking to the future and remaining competitive.  It seems so many liberals wold rather see the whole USPS fail then to allow them to make the necessary changes to keep it afloat just to prove a point.  Reminds me of recent Union battles where compromises were offered but turned down, only resulting in the company moving with all jobs lost. 

Cutting off your nose off to spit your face is a ridiculous habit.

Joe, it's Congress that is doing all this and not the "big government administration."  the Republicans in Congress are just as complicit (probably more as they espouse free market ideals and then vote against them when it come to post office issues).  Let's call it like it is.  The post office has modernized pretty darn well if you ask me.  I can print mailing labels for priority packages from my home computer, drop them off at the post office and then track their delivery.  this is the same way UPS and FedEx work except for me it's a lot cheaper.  I've probably mailed out well over 100 prints in mailing tubes this way and have never had a missed delivery or damaged package.  How is this a failed institution? 

[Peter McLennan]

... Socialism does not work. 

Right.  Tell that to the Norwegians, who have low scores on crime and corruption, enjoy universal education and health care, constantly score near the top in the "best place to live" sweepstakes, have nearly a trillion dollars in the bank and are reportedly among the happiest people on earth.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/iraqi-farouk-al-kasim-behind-norway-oil-fund-that-is-envy-of-world-1.2604105

[JoeKitchen]

Right.  Tell that to the Norwegians, who have low scores on crime and corruption, enjoy universal education and health care, constantly score near the top in the "best place to live" sweepstakes, have nearly a trillion dollars in the bank and are reportedly among the happiest people on earth.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/iraqi-farouk-al-kasim-behind-norway-oil-fund-that-is-envy-of-world-1.2604105

Okay, next time I'm in Cuba, I'll be sure to stop by the Capital and explain to Raul that the solution to all of his problems is just to visit Norway. 

"Raul, you're doing it all wrong, be socialist like the country that relies on all protection from invading armies, such as from Russia, from foreign forces and can do whatever they choose with all the capital that that saves them.  Raul, you just need to find that right patriarch to replace the now dead USSR and reap the rewards of foreign and free protection, like eastern Europe does with USA protection." 

Or better yet, since my comment related to Venezuela, why not just explain to Maduro how he could so much better, especially since he has the largest oil reserves in the World right.  I mean how could you possible screw up a country that bad if you have the largest amount of one of the most sought after natural resources? 

[JoeKitchen]

Joe, it's Congress that is doing all this and not the "big government administration."  the Republicans in Congress are just as complicit (probably more as they espouse free market ideals and then vote against them when it come to post office issues).  Let's call it like it is.  The post office has modernized pretty darn well if you ask me.  I can print mailing labels for priority packages from my home computer, drop them off at the post office and then track their delivery.  this is the same way UPS and FedEx work except for me it's a lot cheaper.  I've probably mailed out well over 100 prints in mailing tubes this way and have never had a missed delivery or damaged package.  How is this a failed institution?

I think you're missing my point.  Congress keeps the USPS from updating itself at an appropriate speed.  Congresses intervention into the affairs of the USPS is big government liberalism. 

Take Congress out of the decision making picture, and the USPS will more then likely run much better and be able to change with the times easier. 

Now please comment on the protest against Staples by USPS employees and other liberal groups complaining about a loss of jobs. 

[jeremyrh]

Okay, next time I'm in Cuba, I'll be sure to stop by the Capital and explain to Raul that the solution to all of his problems is just to visit Norway. 

"Raul, you're doing it all wrong, be socialist like the country that relies on all protection from invading armies, such as from Russia, from foreign forces and can do whatever they choose with all the capital that that saves them.  Raul, you just need to find that right patriarch to replace the now dead USSR and reap the rewards of foreign and free protection, like eastern Europe does with USA protection." 

I really hope we move more towards isolationism, not as drastic as we were in the 1930s, but more towards allowing foreign countries deal with their own problems with their own money.

Let Europe deal with Europe, and let the Middle East handle themselves. 

My biggest fear right now is that our ally in the Middle East is making a bed so bad that that whole part of the world is going to come down on them, and when that happens, let them sleep in it, alone!

Another one for the Ignore list.

[Peter McLennan]

...be socialist like the country that relies on all protection from invading armies, such as from Russia, from foreign forces and can do whatever they choose with all the capital that that saves them. 

Not all countries can or wish to share America's defense spending tactics. Nor should they be coerced into it by specious scare tactics like "invading armies, such as from Russia".

Before you begin your counterattack with "Crimea!" and "Ukraine!", those issues may provide Russia with at least a shred of plausible deniability because history. To my knowledge, Norway has no such recent links with Russia. An invasion of Norway by Russia ranks pretty low on the likelihood list.

Slobodan may come to your defense. Apparently he knows more about Russia than I do.

The fact remains that Norway has an account balance vs the western nations' account balance that ranks in the multiple trillions of dollars.  That is a result of careful (social) management, not capitalism. And certainly not resulting from underspending slightly on their NATO account.

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

Peter, it seems we have vastly different definitions of socialism.

[JoeKitchen]

Not all countries can or wish to share America's defense spending tactics. Nor should they be coerced into it by specious scare tactics like "invading armies, such as from Russia".

Before you begin your counterattack with "Crimea!" and "Ukraine!", those issues may provide Russia with at least a shred of plausible deniability because history. To my knowledge, Norway has no such recent links with Russia. An invasion of Norway by Russia ranks pretty low on the likelihood list.

Slobodan may come to your defense. Apparently he knows more about Russia than I do.

The fact remains that Norway has an account balance vs the western nations' account balance that ranks in the multiple trillions of dollars.  That is a result of careful (social) management, not capitalism.

First, my opinions on Crimea and Ukraine and Russia are currently indifferent, so long as we do not get involved.  That is another country many 1000s of miles away, and the amount of time our press and former president gave to that conflict was ridiculous.  I could care less what happens there. 

Moving one, I don't expect other countries to spend like we do on the military, and I really wish we did not spend as much as we do.  I think the number should be halved or more.  Let us go back to pre-WWII military size and spending.  There is no reason we should have a military as big as we do, especially since the idea of an army invading the USA is crazy due to the Atlantic and Pacific, and our (currently) friendly neighbors above and below.  Canada will never become hostile; Mexico will probably become/continue to be more upset with us, but I doubt ever hostile. 

So, if we were to cut spending as far as I would like to see it and stop policing the world, that would mean many others would need to pick up the slack and spend money, taking money from other areas. 

Moving onto Norway, it is a small country with a population that is very homogeneous.  Operating a country such as that is much easier than a large swath of land with many different peoples and many different ideologies.  Socialism will work better there, but probably not as much as capitalism, but in the USA, you're crazy to think it could be applied here.  Plus, Norway is not really socialist, aka "a political and economic theory of social organization that advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole." 

As far as I know, you can still own your own business and property in Norway.  If you want to talk socialism, lets talk about Cuba and Venezuela, or even better the DPRK. 

Our economy is too large and effected by too many uncontrollable things (like our huge differences in weather) to even dream of making socialism a success. 

I just find it crazy that if you look at history, capitalism worked the moment it was created, but pure socialism has yet to work in any country it has been applied to.  Did the capitalist just get lucky right out of the gate and the socialists are still trying to find the secret sauce to make it work? 

[Otto Phocus]

I just find it crazy that if you look at history, capitalism worked the moment it was created,

I would be interested in reading any citation that supports your point that any country/society with a 100% capitalistic system worked for very long?

[JoeKitchen]

I would be interested in reading any citation that supports your point that any country/society with a 100% capitalistic system worked for very long?

Provide me a source that shows a country that was purely socialist worked for very long. 

But let us get back to the real subject, healthcare.  I just don't trust a single source, private or public, to ever run anything well, just because they don't need to. 

If you're the only game in town and no one can go anywhere else, why bother going above and beyond. 

I am not a Hassy user, but I don't want to see Hassy go out of business because it forces Phase One to stay on their toes, and vice versa.

PS, if you're going to selectively quote me, at least include the entire sentence.  I may write fast and not proof read everything I write before posting, but I do not write using only phrases and incomplete sentences. 

[jeremyrh]

Not all countries can or wish to share America's defense spending tactics.

Well, invading Afhjanistan was quite costly. Maybe the idea is that the Norwegians find a faraway country to invade, and hence bump up their defence expenditures?

[JoeKitchen]

Is there a way to ignore an entire conversation?   

I think the best course of action would be to do so with this one. 

[Bart_van_der_Wolf]

Is there a way to ignore an entire conversation?

Back to the thread's topic.

Trump to sign order on Tuesday easing energy regulations: officials:
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-energy-regulation-idUSKBN16X150

And oh, the irony: "Trump plans to sign the executive order at the EPA ..."

Cheers,
Bart

P.S. Threatened U.S. pullout might help, not hobble, global climate pact:
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-climatechange-agreement-idUSKBN16Y1SP

[Alan Goldhammer]

But let us get back to the real subject, healthcare.  I just don't trust a single source, private or public, to ever run anything well, just because they don't need to. 

If you're the only game in town and no one can go anywhere else, why bother going above and beyond. 

Joe, read TR Reid's wonderful book, "The Healing of America."  Reid is now Rocky Mountain bureau chief for the Washington Post but served as a foreign correspondent in multiple countries during his tenure at the Post.  He and his family were covered under the local healthcare authorities in each of those countries and he describes those experiences as well as others in his efforts to better understand how the foreign healthcare agencies work as well as what the prognosis might be for his ailing shoulder that was a result of an injury suffered many years ago (I won't spoil it but the best treatment he received was in the strangest of the countries he visited).  Did you know that Germany has about 200 health insurance cooperatives; that the Swiss decided to extend healthcare to all citizens the same year that Clintoncare crashed and burned; that the Canadians are reasonably happy with their provincial model of coverage.  Do read the book, it takes only a couple of hours and you will quickly realize that this country can and should do better.

Why we tolerate high infant mortality rates and lessor life expectancy for those who reach 60 (this weeds out all the homicide and traffic accident victims) compared to other countries is beyond me.  Also, don't think every other country takes the same approach or that it's socialized medicine; they don't and it isn't.

[JoeKitchen]

Back to the thread's topic.

Trump to sign order on Tuesday easing energy regulations: officials:
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-energy-regulation-idUSKBN16X150

And oh, the irony: "Trump plans to sign the executive order at the EPA ..."

Cheers,
Bart

P.S. Threatened U.S. pullout might help, not hobble, global climate pact:
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-climatechange-agreement-idUSKBN16Y1SP

Bart, I am not sure how you interrupted my quote, but I meant it as maybe I am spending too much time looking at this thread as opposed to getting work down. 

I am sure you know as someone else who works for yourself how easy it is to get distracted when you're the boss. 

But anyway, I do agree there is a good deal if irony there.