Monthly Archives: July 2009

A Space Program for the Rest of Us

Posted on Fri, 24 Jul, 2009 by pmjones

Apollo was not a methodical space program; it was an anomalous race in the Cold War in which anything could be wasted but time. It turned out to be unsustainable and unaffordable, which is why it boggles the mind that … Continue reading →

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The Arrogance of Health Care Reform

Posted on Thu, 23 Jul, 2009 by pmjones

It's crazy for a group of mere mortals to try to design 15 percent of the U.S. economy. It's even crazier to do it by August. Yet that is what some members of Congress presume to do. They intend, as … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Government, Health Care | 1 Comment

Health Reform? Try Markets!

Posted on Sun, 19 Jul, 2009 by pmjones

I think it is fair to conclude from this that the Massachusetts health reform plan, which in some ways is the model for the plans currently under discussion in Congress, was a failure. Thanks to Mark Ambinder for the pointer. … Continue reading →

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Mass. “Capitation” Health Plan

Posted on Sun, 19 Jul, 2009 by pmjones

According to the chap who runs the Massachussetts exchange, the state and medical providers still face a hefty expense for treating those who don't have insurance, with over half the cost of medical care for the uninsured still persisting. And … Continue reading →

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Health Care Competition

Posted on Fri, 17 Jul, 2009 by pmjones

I take Lipitor. The drug may extend my life. But this doesn't lower my health-care costs. Years of pill-taking increases costs. If the pill works, I may live long enough to get an even more expensive disease. And maybe I, … Continue reading →

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“Powerful GM” ?

Posted on Thu, 16 Jul, 2009 by pmjones

The writer suggested I begin: “it was once the most powerful company in the world…” GM was indeed the most “profitable,” or “biggest”—that I get. But powerful? Why do people think about business that way? GM has/had no armies with … Continue reading →

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Obama as Health Care Salesman: He Sucks!

Posted on Thu, 16 Jul, 2009 by pmjones

It's also time, Obama tells his viewers, to lose weight, and stop smoking, and pull up your socks. Later on he tells people that they are foolish to prefer brand name drugs to generic drugs, and to want multiple medical … Continue reading →

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Deflation Coming?

Posted on Tue, 14 Jul, 2009 by pmjones

In my opinion, the signs are now pointing more strongly toward deflation. Or in other words, to the next leg downward in the collapse of the housing bubble. The heroic efforts of government policymakers to deny reality and act as … Continue reading →

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Pet Med Care Costs Rising Too

Posted on Tue, 14 Jul, 2009 by pmjones

Veterinary spending is rising just about in line with human medical spending. Kudoes to AEI for publishing a graph that seriously undercuts one of the major conservative arguments about health care: that the main problem is consumers who don't bear … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Health Care | 1 Comment

War Against the Producers

Posted on Sun, 12 Jul, 2009 by pmjones

The New Culture of “Pay Up, Mister–or Else!” For Obama to pull this off, an entire sort of new vocabulary, rhetoric, and attitude is necessary. And the model is California: the carpenter and the bricklayer are laid off, and the … Continue reading →

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