Archive for December 3rd, 2009

Why Health Care Reform Isn’t (Again)

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009

Why politics is (again):

You’re politicians.

You get outside experts to review the science, judge effectiveness, and make recommendations about a certain medical test.

You don’t like the recommendations, although the science is sound and the ineffectiveness is clear, and you’re hearing from a lot of constituents who feel the same way.

As your very first amendment to the Senate health care reform bill, you mandate that insurance companies pay for all tests of a certain kind.

You add a billion dollars to the cost of health care with no discernible benefit, other than to the medical-industrial complex.

Gorilla sums it up: “Boy, those pink ribbons have sure gotten expensive!”

Share

Tags:
Posted in Gorilla Meek | No Comments »

Exit? What Exit?

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009

The perverse approach of world central bankers to the current economic mess goes on.

In Europe and the US, there seems to be more worry about a non-existent inflation threat than doing anything to combat unemployment or foster further economic growth.

Deflation is still a very real threat (ask Japan), quantitative easing hasn’t really resulted in increased lending (ask Ben Bernanke), there’s really nothing been done to clean up the zombie banks (ask Angela Merkel), while private sector and consumer demand continues to be next to nothing (ask anybody looking for a job).

Gorilla tries to comprehend the race to an exit strategy: “We must be seen to be tough, except about the things that are really tough!”

Share

Tags: , ,
Posted in Gorilla Meek | No Comments »

This Week’s George T. Platter And Bait

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009

The tidetime folklorist wonders when we’ll decide that capturing terrorists means actually finding them in the places they live.

The Platter: She’s Not There by the Zombies (not playing the Woodstock of northern Pakistan)

The Bait: The Plug Screw Eye Terminal Tackle (to focus hearts and minds on the original objective)

Share

Tags: , ,
Posted in George T.'s Platters and Baits | No Comments »

Zombies Get Paid

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009

Bank of America is repaying its TARP bailout!

Of course the hundreds of billions in taxpayer guarantees of BofA’s toxic debt remain, and the coming wave of CRE and residential foreclosures mean that the bank is still poorly capitalized, a zombie in all but name.

The real purpose of the payback is to regain control from the government over salary payments. No matter what happens to the bank, management must be paid and paid well!!

Gorilla thinks: “It’s not just the living dead, it’s what they earn!”

Share

Tags: ,
Posted in Gorilla Meek | No Comments »

Grandpa Gets It

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009

The grandfather of global warming says the Copenhagen summit on climate change is a farce!

Climate scientist James Hansen, who first wrote about global warming in the 1980s, says: “The fundamental problem is that fossil fuels are the cheapest form of energy. As long as they are, they are going to be used,” he said. “It’s remarkable. They refuse to recognise and address the fundamental problem and the obvious solution.”

The solution? “We are going to have to move beyond fossil fuels at some point. Why continue to stretch it out longer?” he said. “The only way we can do that is by putting a price on carbon emissions. The business community and the public need to understand that there will be a gradually increasing price on carbon emissions.”

Gorilla says: “Listen to grandpa, he’s been there and done it!”

Share

Tags: , ,
Posted in Gorilla Meek | No Comments »