The Hippocratic oath gets in the way — Cranach: The Blog of Veith

The Hippocratic oath gets in the way — Cranach: The Blog of Veith: "Ezekiel Emanuel sees the Hippocratic Oath as one factor driving “overuse” of medical care. He is a policy adviser in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and a brother of Rahm Emanuel, the president’s chief of staff.

Dr. Emanuel argues that “peer recognition goes to the most thorough and aggressive physicians.” He has lamented that doctors regard the “Hippocratic Oath’s admonition to ‘use my power to help the patient to the best of my ability and judgment’ as an imperative to do everything for the patient regardless of the cost or effects on others.”"

When government controls health care it must ration care. That is a high price for "free"

Why Circuit City Failed, and Why B&H Thrives, Managing Technology Article - Inc. Article

Why Circuit City Failed, and Why B&H Thrives, Managing Technology Article - Inc. Article: "You know what? I don't buy the argument that the economy caused Circuit City's failure. Take one look at its competitors, and you know that the market for consumer electronics and computer equipment remains strong, even in this economy. You can walk into any Apple Store and see large crowds of people lining up to buy computers and iPods. But enough has been said about how wonderful Apple is. I want to tell you about another first-class consumer electronics retailer -- a much smaller business you probably haven't been to, unless you live in New York City or are a professional photographer or an avid hobbyist. It's called B&H."

"A Certain Failure" by Richard W. Rahn (Cato Institute: Commentary)

"A Certain Failure" by Richard W. Rahn (Cato Institute: Commentary): "Do you know what the word 'income' means? My large Webster's dictionary is able to provide a clear and comprehensive definition in a mere 52 words. The shortest definition the Internal Revenue Service could provide in response to my request for its definition was 140 words - but the word income was included 10 times, missing the point that you do not include the word to be defined as part of the definition."

"[T]he income-tax code and regulations contain many inconsistent and even contradictory explicit and implicit definitions of the word income, leaving taxpayers both confused and endlessly at risk legally."

"Mr. Cohen, arguably the best tax lawyer of his day, also said he did not understand much of what was in the tax code - at that time a mere 4 million words or so, as contrasted with the more than 7 million words (almost 70,000 pages) in today's code. Last week, I was in a meeting with some of the nation's best and most experienced tax lawyers and tax economists, several of whom had served in the Treasury, and, again, there was the general lament that the tax code is so complex it is beyond their understanding and repair.

Those who claim that the government will be able to get a lot more tax revenue by increasing tax rates on the rich live in a fantasy world. Over the past 40 years, maximum income tax rates have ranged from 28 percent to 70 percent, yet tax revenues as a percentage of gross domestic product have been remarkably constant, ranging from a low of 16.3 to a high of 20.9 percent of gross domestic product."

"People always seem surprised that very rich people such as Warren Buffet, Sens. John Kerry, Edward M. Kennedy and Dianne Feinstein and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi pay much smaller effective tax rates than many in the middle class. One should not be shocked; the politically powerful have always protected themselves and their friends."

Obama Breaks Campaign Promise to Sign Abortion Bill Immediately - Presidential Politics | Political News - FOXNews.com

Obama Breaks Campaign Promise to Sign Abortion Bill Immediately - Presidential Politics | Political News - FOXNews.com: "On Wednesday, Obama said both sides must recognize abortion is both a moral and an ethical issue, adding that proponents of abortion rights are mistaken when they say abortion is merely 'about women's freedom' without recognizing any other consideration."

A Free Society

Quote Details: Adlai E. Stevenson Jr.: My definition of a... - The Quotations Page: "My definition of a free society is a society where it is safe to be unpopular.
Adlai E. Stevenson Jr."

Despite Reports, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed Was Not Waterboarded 183 Times - Presidential Politics | Political News - FOXNews.com

Despite Reports, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed Was Not Waterboarded 183 Times - Presidential Politics | Political News - FOXNews.com:

A U.S. official with knowledge of the interrogation program told FOX News that the much-cited figure represents the number of times water was poured onto Mohammed's face -- not the number of times the CIA applied the simulated-drowning technique on the terror suspect. According to a 2007 Red Cross report, he was subjected a total of 'five sessions of ill-treatment.'

'The water was poured 183 times -- there were 183 pours,' the official explained, adding that 'each pour was a matter of seconds.'

That sounds so much better.

The memos describe the controversial process: a detainee is strapped to a gurney with his head lowered and a cloth placed on his face. Interrogators pour water onto the cloth, which cuts off air flow to the mouth and nostrils, tripping his gag reflex, causing panic and giving him the sensation that he is drowning.

At that point the cloth would be removed, the gurney rotated upright and the detainee would be allowed to breathe. The technique could be repeated a few times during a waterboarding session; Zubaydah said it was generally used once or twice, but he said he was waterboarded three times during one session.

The Justice Department memos described the maximum allowed use of the waterboard on any detainee, based on tactical training given to U.S. troops to resist interrogations:

-- Five days of use in one month, with no more than two "sessions" in a day;
-- Up to six applications (something like a dunk) lasting more than 10 seconds but less than 40 seconds per session;
-- 12 minutes of total "water application" in a 24-hour period

Torture, according to the United Nations Convention Against Torture, is: "any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a male or female person for such purposes as obtaining from him, or a third person, information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity. It does not include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in, or incidental to, lawful sanctions."

Do you think that is torture? Is that what you want the U.S. to do?

WORLD Magazine | On the road again | Marvin Olasky | May 09, 09

WORLD Magazine | On the road again | Marvin Olasky | May 09, 09: "WORLD: What would you do about Iran right now?
HUCKABEE: We need to remember that the Iranian people are not our enemies; the Iranian leadership is not at all indicative of the total attitude. You may have forgotten this, but on the night of Sept. 11, 2001, when there was dancing in the streets in Arab capitals all around the world, in Tehran they lit candles. The Iranian people do not inherently hate Americans. In fact, there is a deep sense of angst within many Iranians because they had a long-time relationship with the American people. With the takeover of radical Islamic factions, the leadership makes Americans think that that is who they are. I have nothing but contempt for Ahmadinejad—and he's the puppet, he's not the power, it's the ayatollah behind him—but there are a lot of Iranians who would like to see something other than what they live under now."

First 100 Days: Social Policy Takes a Left Turn Under Obama - First 100 Days of Presidency - Politics FOXNews.com

First 100 Days: Social Policy Takes a Left Turn Under Obama - First 100 Days of Presidency - Politics FOXNews.com: "From the conscience clause to stem cell research, President Obama has shifted social policy to the left in his first 100 days in the White House. But the reversal of several of his predecessor's regulations has garnered hardly a whimper -- leaving many to wonder how much social issues matter to Americans amid two wars and an economic crisis."

FOXNews.com - Man Brings Live Hand Grenade to Gun Buyback Event - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News

FOXNews.com - Man Brings Live Hand Grenade to Gun Buyback Event - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News: "New York City police were holding a suspect Saturday who they say tried to turn in a live hand grenade to police at a gun-buyback program in the Bronx."

He was following the spirit of the program. They want to get weapons off the street and he was helping. Why arrest him?

If you want to reduce government corruption...

...then reduce the size of government.