We discussed uncompensated care a few days ago, where I mentioned the variation in health care costs across the US. But, is that variability related to the cost of living in the various regions of the US? Or, is it attributable to the relative health of folks in various regions?
Continue reading Healthcare Costs- Controversy and Data
We all have heard (or read) how middle class wealth has been devastated over the past quarter century. Even now, as the economy seems to be perking up, it’s only the very wealthy that are seeing those gains. Mostly because the stock market is way up (interest rates are so low, it’s the only place for the wealthy and the retired to park their funds)- and housing has still not recovered (which is where the bulk of middle class wealth is found) to those pre-2009 levels.
Continue reading Is the Tax Code Fair?
Lately, data are indicating that the seemingly inexorable rise in our health care costs may be attenuating. Is this real? Or, just an artifact? Given that there are large variations in health costs across the US, what does this trend mean for our local, state, and federal taxes. And, given that these difference in regional costs will become exacerbated as more (Republican) states refuse to run their own health care exchanges, some of us are in for additional costs.
Continue reading Uncompensated Care
With all the hoopla about Obamacare (PPACA is its real acronym), one would think that it would be a total failure. But, even as a certain party keeps sniping at it, cutting funding, it’s making a difference in our health care.
Continue reading It’s moving along…Obamacare, that is.
I am always amazed (annoyed?) at the innumeracy of the American (ok, the world’s) populace. It’s one of the ways polemicists can convince folks of certain “facts”– even when there is no logic behind their words.
Continue reading Average<>Median
I decided that if learning form failure is a good idea, then we all can learn “oodles” from the stupidity and ineptitude of the Wall Street Journal. I share the ‘experience’ here.
Continue reading How NOT to run customer service
It’s that time of year again. Where every Senator, Congressman, Businessman clamors for tax reform. Which really is never about tax reform, but about making the playing field more beneficial for someone (their special someone).
Continue reading We Need This Tax Reform
Cal Ripken. Baseball’s “Iron Man”. He played for a team that I never followed- nor one I liked. But, Cal Ripken is someone I admired- not just because he played day in and day out- but because he represented all that is honorable in sports.
Continue reading Talent. Skill. Attitude.
I am so tired of hearing how corporations pay 35% of their income to the Internal Revenue Service. That fiction needs to stop- now. There are a slew of companies that paid nome o corporate inctaxes in 2012 (and years prior).
Continue reading Tax Rate Fictions
About 1/6 of us feel that we do not get sufficient sleep. Now, that’s the data- and I can’t figure out quite how that was derived- but it seems that someone told the subjects they needed 8 hours of sleep- which predicated that answer.
Continue reading Catching some Z’s?