Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Miracle Invention Solves All Our Problems!


Stops global warming by reducing greenhouse gases.
Eliminates the energy crisis by supplying inexpensive renewable fuel.
Motivates obese people to get skinny and healthy (lowers health care costs)
Creates enough explosive power to blow up Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and North Korea.
Does away with embarrassing noises and odors.

I have registered my invention with the U.S. Patent Office as, “Harry’s Backpack Flatulence Collector. It sounds too good to be true but it is based on known scientific principles and current technology. I have secretly tested this device on cows in Argentina; guess what, it works perfectly! Now that we know it is safe (and effective) the next step is to require all U.S. citizens to wear one for the common good of our country. You are probably wondering, how does it work? Since it is registered with the patent office, I am free to explain. The methane gas in your farts is a greenhouse gas, which is 25 times worse than carbon dioxide. By not releasing this gas into the atmosphere, we are reducing global warming. Methane gas used to heat our homes and fuel are cars will free us from dependence on fossil fuels. Fat people will be motivated to create gas (by eating more fiber) because it will be a credit against their taxes. Thus, we will have healthier people and this will reduce the nation’s health care cost. Think about this: 7 years of farts from one person creates the energy of an atomic bomb. 300,000,000 people in the United States could provide enough fire power to wipe out all our enemies. And, here’s the good part; our national defense budget could be reduced by 98%! A personal muffler and catalytic converter will result in a better smelling and quieter planet.

Yes, all this is possible by digitizing your ass gas into digital energy and transmitting it by microwaves to a huge storage facility in Washington D.C. We tried using our heads and look where it got us. It is time to start using our rear ends!

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

A NATIONAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM? VOTE NO!

Universal coverage provided by the government is a bad idea. For reasons, look at the systems provided by other countries such as, Canada and Sweden. Common characteristics are long waiting time periods before you can get poor service. Some reform of our current system is needed concerning the cost of care. Measured by the percentage of GNP, The U. S. spends more on health care than any other country in the world. We have a blended system of government provided benefits for the poor and the elderly (Medicare & Medicaid) and health services and insurance that is available in a free enterprise market. Not perfect, but it functions pretty darn well. The major problem we have is the escalating cost of benefits and services. My remedy for this problem is to tweak the system by changing how benefits and insurance are paid for. Currently, they are provided, primarily, by employers. The individual has no incentive to ask questions like: Do I really need this test or this service? How much does this cost? Can I get it for less through another provider? Instead, the individual thinks, (erroneously) "I don't have to pay for it so give me everything and I do not care what it cost!" Thus, we lose the powerful advantage of free enterprise. It's called competition!

Let's not lose sight of the fact that no system will be perfect. Also, let's remember the ancient truth that the poor will always be with us. And, therefore, the uninsured will always be with us. These problems will be mitigated by charitable individuals and faith based groups who have a societal responsibility for unfortunate people.

The Freelance Thinker

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Why AIG Bailout Is Wrong

I am going to post my blog every Wednesday. This is Wednesday so, here goes. Today's subject is AIG Insurance Company. You ask, "What do I know about insurance?". I worked in the insurance industry for 35 years as a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) which is the premier designation in the insurance industry. I was a marketing vice president for a very successful insurance agency. There is much in the news about the bailout of AIG but little of it is factual. I am going to tell you the truth. AIG, which was founded in Shanghai, China, is about as American as a Chinese firecracker. Yes, they are huge, but, if they were allowed to fail, there are literally thousands of other insurance companies who would love to take over a piece of them. In my opinion, the failure of AIG would have very little, if any, impact on our current recession. In fact, it would be better for our future to have them fail. In a free market economy, greed, dishonesty, and incompetence should be penalized by failure. Certainly, we should not reward failure with a bailout! If we really want to give away billions of dollars, let's use it to help the people who were screwed by AIG. I am losing faith in our elected officials. How could they do something as stupid as the bailout of AIG?!

The Freelance Thinker

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Welcome Mr. Fero (famous author)

I am honored and pleased to have a visit from Mr. Fero. I do not always agree with him but I value and appreciate his opinions! He can play chess almost as good as I can. This means he is pretty darn good!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

My First Blog

Here in Michigan, we are going through difficult economic times. The nation is in a serious, long lasting recession but Michigan is in a depression. We are in worse shape than the rest of the states because of poor management of the Automobile Manufacturing Companies, and poor management of our state by the Governor. We need to elect a Governor who understands how to keep businesses and attract new businesses. We need to stop giving billions of taxpayer money to the failing auto companies. The economic damage has already happened so, let the Auto Companies either fail (and be replaced) or drastically reorganize and figure out how to survive. Why reward them for failure? Economic cycles come and go. That is the nature of our free market system. Let nature take its course and we will survive to create the next boom time. Things will get better but it will take some time, and some common sense by our political leaders. I am hopeful for the future.

The Freelance Thinker