Friday, June 27, 2008

socialized medicine

Here is a short story from Powerline blog.

Claude Castonguay is the father of socialized medicine in Canada. In the 1960s, he chaired a Quebec commission whose recommendation of a government-run health care system for that province was adopted, and quickly spread to the rest of the country. Now, after forty years of experience with socialized medicine, Castonguay has changed his mind:

Four decades later, as the chairman of a government committee reviewing Quebec health care this year, Castonguay concluded that the system is in "crisis."

"We thought we could resolve the system's problems by rationing services or injecting massive amounts of new money into it," says Castonguay. But now he prescribes a radical overhaul: "We are proposing to give a greater role to the private sector so that people can exercise freedom of choice."

A novel idea! When the first countries adopted socialized medicine, it was a mistake. For the U.S. to do it now, in the face of disastrous experience wherever it has been tried, would be a crime.

Global warming arnold schwarznegger

California gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is on the side of global warming. He has repeatedly told the average people how we need to conserve and cut back on greenhouse gasses. He spoke a climate change summit today saying how we need to clean up, he said "Our nation needs to follow California's roadmap to a new energy policy-one that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, emphasizes greater innovation in new technologies and gives consumers fuel choices."
The gov lives in a suburb of L.A. and works in Sacramento, he commutes to work everyday in his gulfstream 5, this is from the gulstream website. The Gulfstream V has a large, wide-bodied, stand-up cabin and offers superb performance and unrivalled luxury for long-range and transatlantic flights. The Gulfstream V is the worlds ultimate business aircraft, accommodating up to 16 passengers in unsurpassed comfort while cruising at Mach 0.80, at altitudes up to 51,000 feet. With a range of more than 5,500 nautical miles, non-stop transoceanic flights are routine.
that is really conserving and making a contribution to lower greenhouse gasses.


Obama and Cap Gains Tax

Obama said in march that he will raise the capital gains tax. The rate is currently 15%. Obama said he will not go over 28% when he raises it. That is basically double.
There are hundreds of millions of dollars in investments right now with big capital gains sitting there.
What do you think will happen to the market if Obama is elected? Before he takes office, the people that control these big mutual funds will sell so they will not have to pay the extra 13% in tax.
What will that do to the market?