The General Assembly was in a tremble-y as President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran addressed the UN Wednesday morning. The members were awaiting another fireworks display. The United States and Israel had preemptively boycotting the speech. The United States delegation had even gone so far as to say that it was a shame that Iran was … Continue reading
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Expert Panels: Both Sides of the Argument
Expert panels have received criticism because of their science-driven approach based on risks and benefits. Those opposed to the idea of these panels argue that any economic approach to medicine does not take into account the value of a life. Others go to the extreme of saying that any analysis of cost-effectiveness or quality measurements … Continue reading
What is Sequestration?
In the spring of 2011, a newly-elected Republican Congress claimed a mandate from the American people to cut spending at any cost. Twice – in February and April – Congress came within hours of a government shutdown before short-term spending measures (Continuing Resolutions) were passed, cutting spending in each case. As spring moved to summer, … Continue reading
The problem with Iran
With the first week of United Nation addresses wrapping up, the United States is still in a sticky situation with what to do about Iran. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad didn’t make any remarks concerning the future of Iran’s nuclear program, so we are led to believe that Iran will continue forward with the program even with … Continue reading
A Tale of Two Economies
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness…” – Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities In the iconic opening lines of a Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens describes pre-revolutionary France, but he could just as easily be … Continue reading
White, Red and Green All-Over
Lost among the conversation of failing economies nowadays are the Asian markets, yet perhaps dutifully so. Standard conversation about Asian markets directs rhetoric towards the rapidly expanding economy of China and the East Asian Tigers, but lost among the success is the historically prosperous island of Japan. Although it still possesses the world’s 4th largest … Continue reading
America / Economy / Fiscal policy / Politics / Presidency / Regulation
A Comparison: Reagan, Obama & Jobs
A myriad of articles have been written on how the presidential election of 2012 should garner a stringent comparison to that of the 1980 presidential election. I agree. During both presidential elections the United States economy was and is hurting. But, the focus of this article is: how did the presidents perform after they won … Continue reading
Money and Medicine, revisited
Yesterday, PBS premiered a show called “Money and Medicine,” wherein two hospitals were studied (Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles and Intermountain Medical Center in Salt Lake City) and compared according to their health spending and health outcomes. The film was not incriminating or condescending to either hospital; rather, these examples were used … Continue reading
Another Burden on the States
October 1st is quickly approaching, as it signifies another deadline in the long list of regulatory requirements for the Affordable Care Act. As mandated by HHS, all states must submit a list of “essential health benefits” that will be required to be included in all individual and small group market plans within and separate of … Continue reading
America / Economy / Fiscal policy / Politics / Uncategorized
Investment or Waste
When we invested in the Hoover Dam or the Golden Gate Bridge, or the Internet, sending a man to the moon — all those things benefited everybody. And so that’s the vision that I want to carry forward. – Barack Obama This statement, in a nut shell, represents the entire positive argument that President Obama is … Continue reading
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