Health Abuses and Remedies

                   

The Harvard School of Public Health reported that about twelve health style abuses account for over one million American deaths each year. Cut down those statistics and you have remedied the health care problem.

                       

It’s been estimated that smoking costs about 467,000 American lives a year. High blood pressure from unhealthy lifestyles causes about 395,000 lives per year. There is some overlapping as bad health habits are the cause of multiple afflictions.

                       

An emphasis on such changes can save the American economy an enormous amount of money, while keeping its capital infrastructure intact.

                       

But that may be too simple for our health care grandstanding politicos. They would rather change the

entire structure of a sixth of the economy by having government controls. (See the Earl J. Weinreb NewsHole® comments and @BusinessNewshole at Twitter.)

U.S. Drug Costs and Effects

                   

Overseas government sponsors of public health insurance always set standards for doctors to treat patients. This is being done to reduce costs under government-sponsored programs in England, Canada, and Europe.

                       

But what you are not told by U.S. public health enthusiasts, for example, is that cheaper drugs dispensed are often the older versions. They are older generics, whereas newer, more costly branded versions are not dispensed.

                                           

That saves money for the government health system.

However, in many instances, older drugs are not better. In fact, they may not do as good a job as the newer, branded drugs. Governments thus save money at the expense of the patient’s health, or life.(See the Earl J. Weinreb NewsHole® comments and @BusinessNewshole at Twitter.)

Frequent Media Inaccuracies

                 

The media is often inaccurate, even in their business and financial information and idea comments. Always question such information and slants you get.

                       

Three basic reasons for my doubt about the media: One; the fact is that most reports are not in-depth. Reporters and columnists may not have the time to devote to the topic or they are simply too lazy for details.

                       

Secondly; many do not know their subject. It is difficult to adequately discuss business or finance without real hands- on business and/or financial experience. Few in the media meet requirements.

                       

And thirdly; the slant of most reporters and columnists who have learned from their college professors, have had a left- leaning bias thrust on them for a number of years. It shows in their career work. Too many have no idea how the real, day-to-day business and financial world works.

                       

Thus, my  doubts about the media persist. (See the Earl J. Weinreb NewsHole® comments and @BusinessNewshole at Twitter.)

Social Security Amid Politics

Social Security is not a bonafide insurance or retirement program, but an arbitrary government program. I repeat this from time to time as the majority of Americans believe what politicians tell them.

                       

Benefits today often pay off more than are paid in. Benefits paid to the retired are from folks still working.

In the private sector, this is called a Ponzi scheme. It's illegal, for good reason.

                       

About 65 years ago, there were over 16 people paying Social Security tax for each retiree. Now, there are fewer than three. And in about 20 more years, the funds will run out;  the scheme will be fully obvious.

                       

There are no reserves; the Social Security Trust Fund is a fictitious account, existing only in the mind of politicians.

                       

Payroll taxes should be abolished. Social Security should be funded from income taxes on pay-as-you-go.. There should be an option for a taxpayer’s individual allocation to go into a private Social Security fund, in a stock index or U.S. savings bonds; a true insurance fund with reserves and guarantees. (See the Earl J. Weinreb NewsHole® comments and @BusinessNewshole at Twitter.)

American Show Trials

                                    

Government show trials occur too often, comparable in many respects to those in the old Soviet Union. Such actions have happened before our eyes and can happen again. They serve the purpose of populist politicians.

                       

Example: Congress, a few years back,organized a union campaign against Toyota, which is non-union, in a huge show trial with the cameras and the finger pointing. Congressional allegations were made, when confused victims sometimes stepped on gas pedals instead of brakes, which jammed sensitive equipment. And occasionally high-tech equipment normally went bad.

                       

Add to this, continued public on-the-carpet questioning of oil, banking and similar top CEOs. (See the Earl J. Weinreb NewsHole® comments and @BusinessNewshole at Twitter.)

No Health Insurance?

                    

Some in this country claim as many as 45 million Americans have had no health insurance prior to ObamaCare. There is lots of doubt about this figure. Many others claim, with reasonable authority, that this figure includes illegals, those in between jobs, and folks who are not interested, or wish simply to self- insure.

                       

But as with many of their claims, facts are not important; some prefer to substitute good intentions for fact.

                       

Yet, if that number is actually considered, uninsured are only a small part of the population. And, in truth, we are looking at true need in only about 5% of the population. They can be handled without a massive restructuring of our national economy. (See the Earl J. Weinreb NewsHole® comments and @BusinessNewshole at Twitter.)

College Political Views

                 

Among the 630,000 or so full time college instructors and professors, there is a major dysfunction in the way they instruct their students. It has been going on for some time, but it has been recognized only by a few.

                       

It has to do with the world political and cultural view of those who teach our youth. and negates the whole purpose of going to college.

                       

Tidbits relegated to memory are soon forgotten. The ability to reason and think clearly, ought to be what college education should instill in youthful minds.

                       

But when not more than 5% of college professors and teachers, vote Republican,  much less in the social sciences, red flags should go up.

                       

How broad are perspectives being taught? These academics are turning out media “giants” and our business and political leaders who are attuned to ideas slanted to only one political party.

                       

Media and, in fact, all students are desperately in need of a broader perspective than what they get in school. Students require a more independent, and less politically slanted view of what they now get toward business, finance and western values. (See the Earl J. Weinreb NewsHole® comments and @BusinessNewshole at Twitter.)