Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Power corrupts

I've been reading quite a few blogs that think the recent Supreme Court decision granting Habeas to the Gitmo detainees is soft on terrorism. "Terrorists have no rights!"

As far as "Terrorists have no rights", I would tend to almost agree--once they are properly convicted and appeals have been exhausted.

Imagine if Obama is elected, and manages to push a new Assault Weapons ban through, except this time it is a total ban. He issues a statement that possession of an assault weapon is not just a crime, it is incontrovertible evidence that the possessor is a terrorist. Anyone the federal government finds with an assault weapon is hauled off to Gitmo until we are done with the War on Terror.

Obviously unconstitutional. Except enemy combatants don't have the right to challenge their status as enemy combatants...

Too often I see people supporting expansion of power, based on trust that the current leaders will only use it for good. They forget that our leadership changes, and it is very likely that their political enemies are likely to exercise this power.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Why didn't we think of that before?

"Should Congress quit funding for Public Television and NPR, Public Radio?"

Richard Guess of Charleston says, "Congress should continue paying for it because if they don't, the taxpayers will end up paying for it."

(Hat tip to Say Uncle)

Monday, June 02, 2008

I keep seeing people saying things like "you shouldn't have to go broke to pay for your prescriptions". I've seen a new round of this with insurance companies creating a new tier of drugs that cost more out of pocket. Evil, Greedy insurance companies....

Probably. But the other option to them is to raise prices for everyone, including people not on these drugs.

Imagine this scenario: Someone invents an immunization against cancer--It not only keeps you from getting cancer, it is 90% effective in halting the spread of existing cancer. The manufacturing costs of this drug are $2,000,000 for a year's supply (if you don't get immunized annually, you lose protection) and the inventor has released the formula to the public domain. Should this drug be covered under insurance? What would have to happen to insurance rates if this were covered? What if the cost were "only" $46,000 per year?