Tuesday, June 08, 2010

State health insurance plan starts for low-income childless adults | Hudson Star-Observer | Hudson, Wisconsin

State health insurance plan starts for low-income childless adults | Hudson Star-Observer | Hudson, Wisconsin: "Low-income childless adults in Wisconsin have started applying for a bare-bones state government health plan they can use while waiting to get onto BadgerCare Plus."

Why is the state offering a plan that would be illegal for private insurance companies to offer?

Sidetracking the Gravy Train | Richard W. Rahn | Cato Institute: Commentary

Sidetracking the Gravy Train | Richard W. Rahn | Cato Institute: Commentary: "A recent study, using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, showed that average U.S. federal salaries exceed average private-sector pay in 83 percent of comparable occupations"

"over the last 70 years in the United States, maximum federal income tax rates have ranged from a low of 28 percent (1988-1990) to a high of 92 percent during and just after World War II, yet tax revenues have never exceeded 20 percent of GDP. In 1989, when the maximum individual tax rate was 28 percent, individual income tax revenue was 8.3 percent, and total revenue was 18.4 percent of GDP, both slightly above average for the period from 1970 through 2008, even though the maximum rate was 70 percent during the years 1970-1982."

The Realities Behind the Immigration Debate | Jeffrey A. Miron | Cato Institute: Commentary

The Realities Behind the Immigration Debate | Jeffrey A. Miron | Cato Institute: Commentary: "The United States has an illegal immigration problem because it restricts legal immigration. So long as large wage differences persist between the U.S. and other countries, especially Latin America, the desire to immigrate will persist and occur illegally if it is not permitted legally.

Legal migration, moreover, is good for America and rest of the world. Immigration allows people in poor countries to seek a better life here, bringing ideas and energy with them, and it shows the world that many people still regard America as the land of opportunity. Many immigrants are far poorer than the poorest Americans, so helping them makes far more sense than operating a generous welfare state."

My Week in Haiti - Robert P. Murphy - Mises Daily

My Week in Haiti - Robert P. Murphy - Mises Daily: "Apparently the tax code was based on completed houses, and so the residents of Leogane would make sure their buildings were in a perpetual state of construction, legally speaking."

"Imposing US building codes in Haiti wouldn't have saved hundreds of thousands of people; it would simply have made them homeless all these years."

"During my short visit, one of the major themes relayed to us from the Haitians who interacted with our base was that the locals viewed us with suspicion. In particular, when they would see a team of HODR volunteers engaging in literal hard labor, using sledgehammers and wheelbarrows to remove rubble from a collapsed residence, many of the Haitians apparently resented the fact that we were 'stealing their jobs.' In other words, the Haitians — where unemployment is apparently 90 percent — thought they should be getting paid to remove the rubble from their collapsed homes.

When those who were affiliated with HODR would explain to the people that we were all volunteers, some of them were still suspicious. They speculated that even if we weren't being paid right then, we would probably be paid when we returned back home.

Now here's what struck me about all this: isn't it incredible that after their neighborhoods got wiped out, and hundreds of thousands of Haitians died, that many Haitians were apparently devoting a lot of mental effort to speculating on how much we were getting paid to cart away their rubble? "

Russ Feingold: In the News - Press Releases

Russ Feingold: In the News - Press Releases: "“Ginseng is vitally important to the economic health of this region of the state. We’re pleased that USDA has been so responsive,” Obey said."

I don't think Ginseng is vitally important (One definition is: Necessary to continued existence).

Campaign For Liberty — Compassion

Campaign For Liberty — Compassion: "Compassion is giving poor parents the same school choice that rich parents have; tyranny is forcing Milwaukee kids to attend public schools where only 6% will be taught to read proficiently and painters make over $100,000."

FOXNews.com - Second Aid Ship Reportedly Headed Toward Gaza

FOXNews.com - Second Aid Ship Reportedly Headed Toward Gaza: "Israel has offered to escort the vessel and deliver the civilian aid items aboard, and it says Egypt is prepared to do the same. But Graham said he was concerned that not all of the cargo -- including medical equipment, school supplies and cement -- would be delivered. Israel maintains that cement can be used in rocket launchers, and not just for building construction.

Israeli Foreign Minister Avidgor Lieberman said Israel would not allow its Gaza blockade to be breached, meaning the ship would have to be boarded and inspected before it was allowed to pass."

It seems reasonable for Israel to just want to inspect it first and block dangerous items.